Pictured above: The state-bound Entrepreneurship Team Jacquelin Vazquez, Andrea Beles and Andrea Flores with Chapter Advisor Margaret Bradley.

Culinary Arts students Jocelyn Mendoza, Mariela Canada and Yalitza Mendoza with Chef Jamie Hudman

Three members of the Mount Pleasant High School chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) will be competing at the State Level after the Region 3 contest in Waco last weekend. The team of Andrea Beles, Andrea Flores and Jaquelin Vasquez placed in the Entrepreneurship contest and advanced to the State competition April 6-8 in Dallas.

The team of Yalitza Mendoza, Jocelyn Mendoza and Mariela Canada competed against 30-plus teams in the Culinary Arts competition. They brought all of the equipment from Mt. Pleasant that they needed to prepare the meal.

Yalitza made the wedge salad with blue cheese buttermilk dressing and the appetizer: sautéed button mushrooms. Jocelyn made pan-fried chicken breast with homemade gravy, sautéed asparagus, and pan roasted red potatoes (entrée). Mariela made the dessert: banana pudding with whipped cream and vanilla wafers. All of this was prepared and plated within 60 minutes!

“Not only did they represent the program well, they exceeded all expectations of a new team competing for the first time,” said Culinary Arts teacher and Chef Jamie Hudman.  “Each girl received a $500 scholarship to Escoffier School of Culinary Arts for competing.”