Gold-medal winning 2022 SkillsUSA Post-Secondary State Championship CIM students left to right: Emily Rozema, Culinary Arts; Sierra Franks, Food and Beverage Management; Bria Dove, Baking and Pastry
Join us in celebrating a recent *chef’s kiss*-worthy competition performance by eight outstanding students from Baker College’s Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM).
The 2022 SkillsUSA Post-Secondary State Championship was held on April 1, 2022 at the CIM Port Huron campus, where eight CIM students earned three gold, three silver and two bronze medals, along with three state championship titles. Awards were presented at the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. on April 9, 2022, and now, the three state champs move on to compete at the 2022 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation.
CIM students earned their honors across several categories, including culinary arts, commercial baking and restaurant service. The winning students include:
Culinary Arts:
- Emily Rozema of Martin, Mich. (gold medal; state champion)
- Steven Stempnik of Clinton Twp., Mich. (silver medal)
- Austyn Polker of Toledo, Ohio (bronze medal)
Commercial Baking:
- Bria Dove of St. Clair, Mich. (gold medal; state champion)
- Kindi Dietz of Laingsburg, Mich. (silver medal)
- Alexis Baker of Mt. Morris, Mich. (bronze medal)
Restaurant Service:
- Sierra Franks of Port Huron Twp., Mich. (gold medal; state champion)
- Alex Pruchnicki of Avon, Ohio (silver medal)
“It is exciting to see a steady return to in-person culinary competition events, and it’s so rewarding to see our students continue to shine in that space,” said Chef Tom Recinella, CEC, AAC, HGT, Baker College’s dean of culinary. “Their dedication to their craft, and willingness to put in the work, makes me very hopeful for the future of the culinary arts, baking and pastry and food and beverage management industries.”
Congratulations to Emily, Steven, Austyn, Bria, Kindi, Alexis, Sierra and Alex! And best of luck to Emily, Bria and Sierra as they move onto the national competition in June.
About Culinary Institute of Michigan
The award-winning Culinary Institute of Michigan, a division of Baker College, offers associate degree programs focused on some of the fastest-growing areas of food service. CIM students, who can study culinary arts, baking and pastry or food and beverage management, learn from experienced industry professionals and develop technical skills through intensive hands-on training in world-class culinary facilities. Student chefs also gain real-world experience working at Courses, a teaching restaurant, open to the public and located on each CIM campus. For more information on Baker College and the Culinary Institute of Michigan, visit www.baker.edu or follow CIM on Twitter and Facebook.