Virginia High School's DE Culinary II class, led by instructor Lisa Adkins, claimed first place in the 4th Annual CareerQuest Culinary Challenge held at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 3, 2026.
This marked the first year the Virginia High School (VHS) team was invited to participate in the regional competition.
The Virginia High team competed against schools primarily from Tennessee, including Science Hill, West Ridge, Dobyns-Bennett, Elizabethton, Sullivan East, Unicoi, and Tennessee High. They emerged as overall winners, with Elizabethton High School taking second place and Dobyns-Bennett High School finishing third.
Students prepared a full menu featuring a soup, an appetizer, and a main course, all incorporating required ingredients. They also developed the menu, designed the layout, and calculated costs to set pricing for each item. During the event, teams faced time limits to complete preparation and presentation tasks, similar to televised culinary competitions. Judges evaluated participants on criteria including teamwork, communication, sanitation, presentation, taste, and more. The judges specifically praised the VHS team for their outstanding teamwork and excellent communication skills throughout the preparation and presentation phases.
The VHS team also earned the award for Best Appetizer with their Butternut Squash Creme Brulee.
The DE Culinary Arts II students who represented Virginia High School were: Sheldon B., Isaac C., Owen D., Casey F., Whitney L., and Berlin M.
Congratulations to Mrs. Adkins and her students on this impressive victory! This achievement highlights the strength of Virginia High's Culinary Arts Program and the skill of its young chefs in a competitive Tri-Cities area.