Area 30 students headed to national culinary competition

The school's culinary team won the state championship and is now set to compete in Baltimore.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a chef's hat repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the energy and creativity of a culinary competition.The Area 30 Career Center culinary team's national competition appearance showcases the program's excellence and the students' passion for the culinary arts.Baltimore Today

The culinary team from Area 30 Career Center in Indiana has won the Overall Grand Champion title at the Pro Start State Invitational and will now advance to the national culinary competition in Baltimore. The team is led by senior students Kaiah Stinson and Jadyn Gilson, along with their instructor Lauren Day.

Why it matters

Culinary competitions provide valuable experience for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the food service industry. The Area 30 team's success at the state level and opportunity to compete nationally showcases the strength of their program and the talents of the students.

The details

The Area 30 Career Center culinary team recently won the Overall Grand Champion title at the Pro Start State Invitational competition. This victory has earned them a spot to compete at the national culinary competition in Baltimore. The team is led by senior students Kaiah Stinson and Jadyn Gilson, along with their instructor Lauren Day.

  • The Area 30 team won the Pro Start State Invitational in April 2026.
  • The national culinary competition will take place in Baltimore in the coming months.

The players

Kaiah Stinson

A senior student on the Area 30 Career Center culinary team.

Jadyn Gilson

A senior student on the Area 30 Career Center culinary team.

Lauren Day

The chef and instructor who leads the Area 30 Career Center culinary team.

Area 30 Career Center

A vocational school in Indiana that has a strong culinary arts program.

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What’s next

The Area 30 culinary team will compete in the national culinary competition in Baltimore in the coming months.

The takeaway

The success of the Area 30 Career Center culinary team at the state level and their advancement to the national competition demonstrates the strength of their program and the dedication of the students and instructor. This opportunity will provide valuable experience for the students as they consider careers in the food service industry.