Juniors Danielle Rivas and Michael Oliu prepare the icing for their “Margaritaville Madness” cupcakes during the final round of Allentown High School’s first-ever Cupcake Challenge on April 14. For more photos, see www.gmnews.com. LAUREN CASSELBERRY Baking is a culinary science requiring precise measurements, but when those cupcakes come out of the oven, there is no way to determine the number of effects they will create.
No one could have come close to measuring the impact one tray of cupcakes would have on the Allentown High School community. In November Vice Principal Connie Embley noticed that teacher Lori Russo had made cupcakes for another staff member and the two began discussing their baking skills. At first, they considered a friendly baking challenge between the two of them but soon concocted an idea that would involve the entire school community.
The Character Education Committee got on board with their plan, and with a $125 grant from the Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation, made “Make Cupcakes Not War” buttons to start advertising the school’s first-ever Cupcake Challenge. The goal of the project was to get students and staff to come together for a good cause. Not only did the Cupcake Challenge do that, it taught the school sweet lessons in community and character building as well.
Above: Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick and Ron and Ruth Bzdewka, of the House of Cupcakes in Princeton, judge Allentown High School’s first Cupcake Challenge on April 14. Right: Teacher Robert Wicks puts the final touches on the cupcakes he and teammate senior Giancarlo Mancini baked. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY “This has taken the school by storm,” Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said. “When we talk about cupcake wars, we mean it in the most positive sense that they have challenged each other to do their personal best. This is a win, win, win, win every way you look at it.”
Fifty-four teams entered the challenge, filling the school with almost 3,000 cupcakes on April 13. Entries were due in the main office by 7:30 a.m. for staff and community members to judge. While entries such as those made to look like cheeseburgers and bird nests and those meant to taste like brownies, cannoli and strawberry cream made judging difficult, five winners were chosen to bake off the next day to see who made the tastiest cupcakes.
English teachers Mary Johnson and Cheryl Chambliss won the first round with their “That’s S’more” cupcakes made of toasted meringue and chocolate filling with a graham cracker crust. Seniors Nicole Jafferian and Leigh Chiafullo won with their “Raspberry Riots,” made from chocolate ganache, raspberry buttercream, chocolate drizzle and mint leaves. Junior Michael Oliu and Danielle Rivas used vanilla and lemon cake and lime margarita-mix frosting topped with Pop Rocks candy in their winning “Margaritaville Madness” cupcakes. Seniors Tom Verri and Dylan Edwards won with their “Vanilla Chai,” a vanilla cupcake with added spices, frosted with cinnamon, ginger and lemon icing. Teacher Robert Wicks and senior Giancarlo Mancini, the only teacher/student team that made it to the final round, won the first round with their “Zinzero Limon,” a ginger lemon cupcake with a buttercream frosting.
When the finalists entered the foods room for the final challenge onApril 14, they were surprised to discover two cupcake giants in their midst. The winners of the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” Ruth and Ron Bzdewka of The House of Cupcakes in Princeton, were there to help judge the best of the best cupcakes. The other judges were Danielle Est, a member of the Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation; Kara Paglione, a baker who has children in the district; senior Sarah Faber, a student body representative; and Fitzpatrick.
The judges tasted the five cupcakes and scored them on taste, texture, appearance and originality. They all said they had a hard time making their final decision but ultimately named the teacher and student team of Wicks and Giancarlo the winners. Giancarlo’s face lit up as his team was announced as victor.
“I think this was pretty cool,” he said. “I didn’t think it was going to be so spectacular. I wasn’t nervous until I saw everyone in here preparing.”
Wicks, a business teacher, robotics adviser and baker in his spare time, said he enjoyed the time spent working with Giancarlo outside of the classroom.
“I think it was a great pairing,” he said. “I think all teachers should partner with students.”
The celebrity judges, the Bzdewkas, who won “Cupcake Wars” with oatmeal cookie, beer and sauerkraut, tomato soup and peanut butter brownie cupcakes, said all of finalists’ entries were fantastic.
“They put their heart and soul into it and did a great job,” Ron Bzdewka said .
The winners received crocheted cupcakes made by the school’s social worker Ellie Bills and the honor of being called cupcake champions by their school community until the next challenge.
The Character Education Committee sold many of the cupcakes made for the challenge and raised $1,360. Most of the money went into the committee’s account to support good works students do throughout the year, such as raking for the community, visiting the elderly on Valentine’s Day, organizing Violence Awareness Week activities and doing random acts of kindness. The committee also donated $250 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis in the name of the Bzdewkas as thanks for their participation and because the cupcake makers donated their $10,000 in winnings from the “Cupcake Wars” to the hospital.
Ruth Bzdewka said, “We do as much as we can with the community and donations. This is fun and for a good cause. It was an honor for us to be here.”
All remaining cupcakes were donated to the Boys and Girls Club in Trenton and handed out to residents of the tent city in Lakewood.
Senior and Character Education Committee member Jasmine Lugo said, “The Cupcake Challenge has definitely been something our school needs. It built up a lot of morale and school spirit. The pairing of students with teachers was really great to see. It was a great experience for everyone. I loved all of the cupcakes. All of them deserved to win.”
Embley said she loved the enthusiasm and spirit that the challenge brought into the school.
“I loved that the whole school got involved,” she said. “It brought the adults and kids to doing something together in a different role. Everyone pulled together for a common cause and what better than for character education.”
History teacher Megan Smith, who helped organize the Cupcake Challenge, said, “The kids just stole the show.”
Smith said the Character Education Committee would absolutely love to continue the event.
“I think these were the most fun days we’ve ever had at the school, and this can only grow from here,” Smith said.