In a stunning showcase of culinary prowess, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) has set a new standard for excellence in culinary education.
Their culinary team claimed the top spot in the Student Team of the Year category at the prestigious American Culinary Federation’s Southeast Regional competition held in Winston-Salem on March 28. On the same day, Ezrah Hanson, an alumnus of A-B Tech, secured a gold medal in the Student Chef category, achieving the third-highest score nationally.
Both the winning team and Hanson will proceed to the ACF Nationals in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from June 28 to July 2, where Hanson will vie for the title of Student Chef of the Year.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
This victory marks the 16th Southeast Regional title for A-B Tech, a program that also holds national championships from 2024 and 2007. The student team, consisting of Rowan Armstrong, Martin Deyman, Kat Douvres, Kiah Jackson, and Joshua Jimison, was expertly guided by chef instructors Michelle Bailey and Stephen Hertz.
The regional roster featured two returning alumni: Ezrah Hanson, who completed his culinary arts degree last year and returned for a baking certificate, and Rebecca McElreath. McElreath, a member of the 2024 national championship cohort, holds a Baking and Pastry Arts degree and is back to earn a culinary certificate.
Cathy Horton, chair of Culinary Arts and Hospitality, described the competition as “skills on steroids,” emphasizing its role as a career accelerator for students. Although the specific dishes for the national competition remain undisclosed, any menu changes may lead to recipe releases, with judges in Grand Rapids set to be the first to know.
