Contributions Growing for trip

CONNORVILLE -- Students planning to attend a culinary competition at Disney World this spring are getting an abundance of support through generous community contributions.

Teacher Luke Fabry and eight students from his Foods 2 class are planning to attend the Cook Around the World Competition at Disney World Epcot in Orlando on April 26-29. Participants receive a protein, along with ingredients, and select a random envelope featuring a culture on which to base their dish.

The contest gives high schoolers a chance to compete in a hands-on culinary experience and hear from representatives of top colleges and universities about career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality fields. Students can learn and hear from top celebrity chefs, as well. Judges include representatives from Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida and Valencia College in Orlando. Professional Chef Jet Tila is the celebrity mentor. The students will attend a leadership seminar and spend their free time enjoying the parks and amenities.

The BLHS students have nearly reached their goal by conducting fundraisers in school and for the public -- the most recent being on Jan. 21 with a soup dinner benefit which proved to be quite fruitful.

"The soup benefit was hugely successful and we made $1,600 in three hours," Fabry said. "We raised $12,000 in four months."

Other fundraisers have included selling macaroni and cheese and pulled pork meals, making lunches for teachers and holding bake sales at the school. Donations have been accepted and the community has been gracious, sending checks from $50 to $1,500 to help finance the journey. Fabry cited companies, churches, organizations and residents, including the Hopewell United Methodist Church, Lamont and Esther McCoy, Roger and Margaret Warren, the Buckeye Ruritans, Wells Township Haunted House and Intex Services LLC have donated, adding additional contributions are being accepted.

"We made a payment for the trip and are saving for transportation," Fabry commented. "We are going to get kids things to remember the experience."

Fabry stated he always wanted to have students take part in competitions and field trips. He said the district administration has been very supportive and he hopes to attend the Florida contest every other year to provide other opportunities for his classes. He and his Food 2 students, which include seniors Samantha Ankrom, Kiarra Eastham, Skylar Ebright, Shayleigh Hornyak, Ryder Kinberg-Colabelli, Preston Lindsey and Nyja Short and junior Brennin Takach, are sending thank-you letters to those who have contributed.

Eastham and Hornyak said they are thrilled to attend and will enjoy the event.

"I am very excited," said Eastham. "I'm looking forward to the whole experience. I'm going to enjoy watching everyone else cook from different countries."

"It's definitely a great experience," said Hornyak. "Our school never gets an opportunity to do this and it's nice that we get to go."

Anyone interested in donating for the trip can make a check payable to the Buckeye Local School District, in care of Luke Fabry. Checks can be mailed to: Buckeye Local High School, 10692 state Route 150, Rayland, Ohio, 43943.