Colleagues,
Students in the Culinary Arts program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School won the 2024 Massachusetts SkillsUSA MRE Challenge!
David
Blue Hills Regional Technical School Culinary Program Wins First Place in SkillsUSA MRE Challenge
February 7, 2024 Hannah Sammut Client News
Students Ian Kreger, Ayianna Rosa and Nafisatu Apatira craft their dish at the Massachusetts SkillsUSA MRE Challenge at the Massachusetts Army National Guard Armory in Natick. (Photo Courtesy Blue Hills Regional Technical School)
CANTON — Superintendent-Director Jill Rossetti, Principal Geoff Zini and Lead Culinary Arts Instructor Richard Spada are pleased to share that students in the Culinary Arts program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School won the 2024 Massachusetts SkillsUSA MRE Challenge.
On Thursday, Jan. 25, 27 teams from schools across the state competed at the Massachusetts Army National Guard Armory in Natick to create an appetizer, an entree, a dessert, and a beverage using only materials from six Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) packets. The students had 30 minutes to plan their menu and another 90 minutes to prepare the dishes.
Sophomore Ian Kreger and juniors Nafisatu Apatira and Ayianna Rosa created the winning entry of Italian sausage enchiladas, spicy beef ravioli, blueberry lemon cake, and tropical fruit punch. Their meal was judged by a panel of local culinary professionals, non-participating culinary teachers, and National Guard members. The other participating team from Blue Hills Regional Technical Schools consisted of Namaka Kamoa, Ziona Tavares, and Deana James.
While MREs, which are the standard field rations used in the US Armed Forces, come in different flavors and combinations, the ingredients are limited, and the ration is designed to be eaten on the go. Included in the MRE kit is a Flameless Ration Heater (FRH), which students had to utilize to prepare the food. The tool uses a similar mechanism as a hand warmer and gets hot to ensure that food is warm.
“I was thoroughly surprised both teams from Blue Hills were able to craft such gourmet meals from field rations,” Lead Culinary Arts Instructor Richard Spada said. “The teams’ success is a testament to the creativity and work ethic that we regularly see in our students at school.”
(From left to right) Students Nafisatu Apatira, Ian Kreger and Ayianna Rosa and faculty member Richard
Spada pose with their first-place award.
- The winning submission of Italian sausage enchiladas, spicy beef ravioli, blueberry lemon cake and tropical fruit punch.
Competitors at the Massachusetts SkillsUSA MRE Challenge at the Massachusetts Army National Guard Armory in Natick.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira