The culinary arts classroom at the BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia was a candy lover's dream Wednesday. Gingerbread houses, made by students, were lined up for display for judging.
Students in David's Caccamise's Culinary Arts class have make gingerbread houses throughout December. The three-week project culminated Wednesday when the faculty and staff of BOCES judged the best gingerbread houses, awarding first-, second- and third-place prizes in both junior and senior categories.
Some juniors and seniors worked in groups, but senior students had the option to work by themselves to complete the houses. The winners won trophies.
All gingerbread houses were graded by Caccamise on use of materials, creativity, overall appearance, holiday spirit and teamwork, as well as individuality. The project is a "big part" of each student's quarter grade, Caccamise said.
Each student was provided with a 2- by 2-foot board for the base of their house, but the design was completely up to the students.
"I let them use their imagination and do whatever they want to do," Caccamise said. "You never know what you're going to get."
Houses this year included a fire hall, a tribute to Sept. 11 and the World Trade Center Twin Towers, a Christmas tree farm and a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed house. Among the houses were traditionally decorated houses as well as such as a ranch-style house.
Building a gingerbread house is like building a real house, Caccamise said. Students had to measure and calculate the houses to ensure stability of the house once constructed using science, applied math and measuring.
"It's just like building a house. A lot of applied math is used," Caccamise said.
Taking first place in the junior grade were Nickitia Tanner, Kaitlin Johnson and Marcanna Zielinski. Second place was awarded to the group of Jessica Hazelton, Samantha Kelsey and Chancie Twoguns. Third place went to the group of Kayla Mancuso, Ronnie Sinclair, Jacob Boberg and Robert Morello.
In the senior grade, first place went to Carrie Smith. Second place went to Brett Lutz. Third place went to the pair of Julian Richmond and Courtney Richter.
Smith's gingerbread house was a two-story house complete with a pretzel lined fence and a couple sitting on the porch. Smith's house also had Santa stuck in the chimney on the roof. Smith won first place last year in the junior division.
When asked how Smith was going to transport her gingerbread house home, she said, "Open the Jeep hatch and place it in the back."
Lutz's gingerbread house was a tribute to Sept. 11 and the Twin Towers. Lutz put an American flag in front of the towers and the words "We will always remember." Lutz won second place last year in the junior division. He plans to donate his house to his uncle who is retired from the military, and chose a Sept. 11 theme because of his sense of patriotism.
Richmond's and Richter's house was a Christmas tree farm complete with a roof filled with gum drops and a snowman in the front yard. Both Richmond and Richter were a part of the group that placed third last year in the junior division.
In the culinary program, there are 22 junior students and 17 senior students.
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