The Texas High School culinary team claimed victory at the SkillsUSA District 5 Leadership & Skills Competition on Feb. 19, 2025, in Waco, Texas, earning a coveted spot at the upcoming SkillsUSA State Championship. Competing against top high school teams from across the region, these culinary students showcased their exceptional skills, creativity, and teamwork to secure the win.
With the regional title in hand, the students now set their sights on the SkillsUSA State competition in Corpus Christi, from April 2-5, 2025 where they will face the best teams from Texas. The competition will be fierce, but the Texas High team will be ready to rise to the challenge.
Preparation took months of hard work and dedication to make every dish taste delicious. Cooking received a three-hour time limit to make a full meal: Chicken, mushroom sauce, rice, green beans, and carrots. To ensure that they were fully prepared, the team made sure to brush up on knife skills and revamp the recipes used in this competition.
“We’ve been preparing for this moment for months,” senior Taliyah Gilmore said. “From perfecting our knife skills to refining our recipes, we’ve put in the time and effort, and it’s incredible to see it all pay off.”
The competition required not only cooking and baking expertise but also time management and communication. As they prepare for the next stage, the Texarkana community is rallying behind them, proud of their accomplishments and eager to see them bring home another victory. With their passion, skill, and determination.
“This is my second year competing and each year I’ve won first,” senior Madison Beaird said. “I compete in baking, and we make a variety of sweets; I’ve been preparing for regionals for about a month and a half now.”
The baking portion held a total of four hours to make four desserts: A birthday cake filled with jam, sugar cookies, blueberry muffins, and an apple galette.
“Our baking and cooking complete me,” Beaird said. “The most divine dishes in your mouth, absolutely mouth-watering.”
