Students competed in a SkillsUSA district contest Jan. 31 at Edison High School and Feb. 1 at Stratford University in Tysons.

Seniors Georgia Corey, Maria Ingea, and Samantha Klonaris and Herndon Academy student Jennifer Bagby competed in the Entrepreneurship Team category.

“We have to present our own business plan as if we were trying to get a bank loan,” Klonaris said. “The name of our bakery is “Simply Sweets.”

In order to prepare, the team split up responsibilities for each person and met regularly to discuss their business plan and practice presenting.

“I had to create a flow chart of management,” Ingea said. “I also had to write about the location and create the logo and slogan.”

The Entrepreneurship Team placed first and will move on to the state competition in April.

Bagby made it past the district round of competition last year as well, along with then-juniors Miki Konishi and Scott Waters.

Konishi received second place at districts and eighth at states in Restaurant Service.

In this competition, Konishi had to set a table for a formal setting, and take a food, and beverage order.

This year, Konishi competed in Hot Foods.

“I had to prepare a set menu that consists of a protein, a green, and a starch.” Konishi said. “I prepared by practicing the recipes at home and in class.”

Bagby placed second in states, and Waters placed first qualifying him for nationals where he placed ninth.

Job Skill demonstration is to be able to show a skill learned in level one skill in over five minutes and fewer than seven.

Waters demonstrated how to make biscuits, and Bagby demonstrated a pie crust.

This year, due to a commitment on the day of competition, Waters was not able to compete.

Alongside Konishi, senior Sara Bolanos and juniors Ebony Farmer and Angel Nichols competed in Culinary Arts competitions. Farmer and Bolanos participated in baking, and Nichols in Restaurant Service.

For Commercial Baking, contestants had two hours to bake cookies, blueberry muffins, and buttermilk biscuits. They also had to ice and decorate a cake.

The top five in each category move on to the next round.

Unfortunately none of the competitors on Feb. 1, will be moving on to the state competition. Nichols and Bolanos placed sixth in their categories and will advance if another competitor cannot compete.