Pelham High School is proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by its Culinary Arts students, who earned first place for the second consecutive year at the Alabama ProStart Student Invitational Culinary Competition held in Orange Beach.
This year’s winning team—Quinn Garner, Jacob Lee, Amanda Orr, Giselle Ornelas, and Nayeli Rodriguez Arceo—demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination as they competed against 16 high schools from across the state. Their continued success is a testament to their dedication and commitment to growth, building on the knowledge and experience they gained while competing at the national level in 2025.
A highlight of the competition was the team’s precision and technique. Quinn Garner and Jacob Lee were recognized for their outstanding knife skills, earning the Best Knife Skills Award. Their work included a finely executed brunoise of butternut squash and a small dice on potato, showcasing both accuracy and attention to detail.
The competition challenged students to prepare a three-course meal—appetizer, entrée, and dessert—within just 60 minutes. Participants worked under strict conditions, using only butane burners, limited tools, and no access to ovens or kitchen sinks. Despite these constraints, the Pelham team delivered an impressive performance that stood out among their peers.
Over the past four months, Pelham High School’s Culinary Arts students have been preparing extensively for this event under the guidance of Chef Alex Arceo, Chef Dawn Hazlewood, and Chef Emily Roy. Through their coursework, students developed a complete competition menu while refining essential industry skills, including recipe costing, safety and sanitation, teamwork, and plating design.
Their hard work culminated in a winning performance that impressed judges and secured their place at the top of the competition. Following the announcement, the Pelham team was named the first-place winner, earning the opportunity to advance to the national competition.
The team will travel to Baltimore this May to compete against top culinary programs from across the country. Pelham High School wishes them the best as they represent our school and community on the national stage.
Congratulations to these talented students and their instructors for this remarkable accomplishment!
