PCTI is proud to celebrate two outstanding Culinary Arts students who achieved remarkable success at the America’s Best High School Chef Competition hosted by the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe University. Competing against more than 50 high school culinary students, Arabelle Fernandez and Sadie Matthews each earned First Place in their respective competitions, securing full academic scholarships valued at $78,400 toward their studies at the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe University.
Trained by Chef Angelina Hernandez, Arabelle Fernandez advanced through several competitive rounds beginning with a precision knife skills challenge, followed by a Mystery Basket Salad round, where competitors were required to create a composed salad using surprise ingredients. Through her strong technique and creativity, Arabelle continued to excel throughout the competition.
Trained by Chef Ron Ossi, Sadie Matthews competed in a one-hour plated dessert challenge, where participants were required to conceptualize and execute two restaurant-quality plated desserts within the time limit.
Arabelle earned First Place in the pastry competition, while Sadie earned First Place in the culinary competition, marking the first time in PCTI history that students captured the top awards in both categories. Both students received full academic scholarships valued at $78,400, supporting completion of both a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Hospitality Management.
Their accomplishments highlight the exceptional talent, dedication, and mentorship within PCTI’s Culinary Arts program.
