Winners named in ‘Love Songs’-themed cake competition

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A cake inspired by Frank Sinatra’s “Come Rain or Come Shine” took the top prize in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s annual cake competition. The theme for the March 3 contest was “Love Songs.”

The cake was designed by Kelsey L. Park, of State College, whose winning techniques included pulled-sugar roses, piped “cornelli lace,” hand-piped lettering and fondant piano keys. Park is enrolled in the baking and pastry arts major at Penn College.

Second place went to baking and pastry arts student Jenna Zaremba, of Pottsville, for her 1960s-reminiscent cake based on the Beatles’ classic “All You Need Is Love.” Zaremba is also a student in the baking and pastry arts major.

Rachel C. Bryant, of Wellsboro, and Shannon E. Croney, of Lake Ariel, tied for third place with cakes inspired by Etta James’ “At Last” and Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted,” respectively. Both are students in the baking and pastry arts major.

All of the competitors are enrolled in an advanced cake decorating course taught by Sue L. Mayer, assistant professor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts.

The competition was judged by Kim Morrison, two-time Grand Prize winner of the National Wedding Cake Competition and owner of Cakes for Occasions in Spring Mills; Jennifer Eckert, bakery manager for Redner’s Warehouse Markets in Reading, who earned degrees in baking and pastry arts and technology management from Penn College; and Lynnette Stegmaier, winner of last year’s Penn College wedding cake competition.

A People’s Choice Award, determined by the votes of visitors to the cake competition display, was granted to Sarah B. Fiedler, a culinary arts and systems student from Lock Haven. The song behind Fiedler’s design was “So This is Love” from Disney’s 1950 adaptation of “Cinderella.”

Proceeds raised by the dollar-per-vote People’s Choice contest were given to the YWCA of Northcentral Pennsylvania’s Liberty House. Liberty House is a bridge-housing program for Lycoming County women (and women with children) who are homeless.

The cakes are on display on the first floor of the Madigan Library through March 28. The first- through third-place winners will also be displayed at the National Capital Area Cake Show in Fairfax, Virginia, on March 20-21.

To learn more about hospitality majors at Penn College, call 570-327-4505 or visit www.pct.edu/baking.

For information about Penn College, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.