Monroe College will host the finals of the America's Best High School Chef competition in the Culinary Arts Center beginning Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19.  Four of the eight competing teams are from New York high schools.  Everyone in the college community is invited to see this exciting event!

The search for America's Best High School Chef began in the fall and it will culminate this weekend.  The high schools seniors from the eight teams all have a strong desire to pursue the culinary arts in the future.  In their entries and through the finals the teams will be judged on teamwork, skill and leadership abilities.

Ultimately, the top-rated member on the winning team will be acknowledged as America's Best High School Chef.   Among the prizes is a full academic scholarship to the Monroe College School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts and admission to the 15-week study abroad program in Italy.

The eight finalists are:

• Bergen County Technical High School (Paramus, New Jersey)
• Food and Finance High School (Manhattan, NYC)
• Harry S. Truman High School (Bronx, NYC)
• Middletown High School (Middletown, New York)
• Port Richmond High School (Staten Island, NYC)
• St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center (Kings Hill, Virgin Islands)
• Tottenville High School (Staten Island, NYC)
• Warwick Area Career and Technical Center (Warwick, Rhode Island)

"This competition fits into the Monroe concept of real-world education," said Frank Costantino, Dean of the School of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts and a certified American Culinary Federation competition judge.  "We're providing a real world opportunity for motivated high school students to demonstrate their skills in a state-of-the art facility, get a taste of what's it's like to perform under pressure, and even have a chance to win a scholarship."