Star HHS Culinary Students Headed to State

Eight star culinary students from Healdsburg High School are reportedly headed to SoCal for a major state competition next month: the annual SkillsUSA championships for “culinary arts” and “baking and pastry arts.” If any of our kids win at state, like two of them did last year, they’ll head to Atlanta in June for nationals. The competitive culinary program at Healdsburg High is led by Derek Corsino, known in part for his brief reality-TV stint on a Food Network baking show. “Each year the high school accepts just over 150 students into its culinary arts program, which offers four classes, including an advanced course with Santa Rosa Junior College credit,” the Sonoma County Gazette reports in a comprehensive new piece on Healdsburg High’s incredibly competitive food program. “The popular program, which is available to sophomores, juniors and seniors, often denies half of those who apply. Between 100 and 200 applicants typically don’t get in. Those who do are in for a rare high school experience.” These are the students competing in SkillsUSA’s statewide baking and pastry contest this year, where only the gold medalist will win a spot at nationals: Alisa Strykowski, who went to nationals as a sophomore last year; Lilianna Reyes; Ruby Leffew; and Sara Cavallo. And in the culinary arts contest, we’ve got: Hadley Rueter, a bit of a local celebrity who won bronze at nationals as a sophomore, went again as a junior but didn’t place, and now gets one more chance to compete as a senior; Henry Smith; Sebastian Johannsen Giuffre; and Ava Wolske. “I have realized that if I put my mind to something, I can achieve more than I may have previously believed to be possible,” Hadley tells the Gazette. And she says of the high-stakes SkillsUSA contest, where winners get a $10,000 scholarship: “Last year one of my competitors had to be taken out on a stretcher because of a panic attack. I just went into the fridge to gather myself and regain focus while it was all going down. I wanted to help but I also wanted to win.” (Source: Sonoma County Gazette & SkillsUSA & Healdsburg Tribune & Derek Corsino via Instagram & Press Democrat; paywall)