The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
JVS culinary arts student takes first in national competition in Kentucky
Lorain County JVS student Julia Spondike, a 2017 Culinary Arts graduating senior from Lorain/Ohio Virtual Academy, placed first in the Culinary Arts competition at the SkillsUSA National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on June 22.
Julia had a dream; to attend the Culinary Institute of America. With her dedication to the culinary arts and the skills she learned at Lorain County JVS, her dream has come true.
“I still can’t stop smiling,” she said. “Achieving first place on the national level and being awarded a full tuition scholarship, which amounts to over $160,000, to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York is having my dream become a reality.”
Julia competed against 43 other culinary arts students from across the United States. “I worked really hard and my JVS Culinary Arts Instructor, Chef Tim Michitsch, poured so much energy into his students; I couldn’t have done it without him.” she said. “It was a long week, but the experience is one that I won’t ever forget.”
Michitsch said, “Julia’s hard work and dedication to the craft paid off. This award is much deserved! All three of our students who competed should be proud. They all did an outstanding job!”
During the weeklong national conference, the students participated in multiple orientations, different skills segments, took two written tests, and ultimately competed for over ten hours in their individual events.
“Knowing that I’m involved in one of the most elite career-tech student organizations, and meeting people from across the U.S., is awesome and will also benefit me in the future,” Julia said.
Greg Beachey, SkillsUSA Chair of the Technical Committee for the Culinary Arts, has been with the career-technical organization for over 13 years and said, “I’ve seen so many students compete over the years, and Julia was something different. When her name was called as the 1st place winner, not only was she all giggles, shaking and screaming, but she beat everyone to the stage, even us, the ones presenting the award! She is why we do this!”
In his position with SkillsUSA, Beachey assists with the orientations for the students, writes the contests, sets the standards, decides what will be tested, sets up the competitions and works with the judges.
“At the end of every competition, the committee likes to ask the judges if any particular student stood out; good, bad or otherwise,” Beachey said. “Numerous judges commented on Julia, who like all students, are known by number only. They said that she was extremely prepared and her attitude was amazing through the whole day. It was clear that she is skilled and that her instructor prepared her well.”
A total of three students from the Lorain County JVS Culinary Academy competed in the competition. Thomas Sadowski, Culinary Arts 2017 senior from Keystone, placed 11th in the Restaurant Services competition, and Olivia Coward, Bakery and Pastry Arts 2018 senior from Elyria, placed 19th in the Commercial Baking competition.
The competitions aren’t over for Julia just yet. She is heading to Nashville at the end of the month for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America National Competition as part of the Culinary Arts Team.
SkillsUSA is a career-technical youth club comprised of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce.