More than 50 Lincoln High School students are hoping macaroni and cheese will help them earn a state or even national award through the Business Professionals of America.
In order to pay for trips to regional and national competitions, the school is again organizing the 3rd Annual Wayne County Mac & Cheese Contest from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 21 with help from the Cambridge City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Residents have two options for tickets, which must be bought in advance.
One hundred Gold tickets will be sold for $15 for entry at 6 p.m. and include first choice of desserts.
The 400 Blue tickets will allow guests to enter at 6:30 p.m. at a cost of $10.
Organizers say guests will get plenty of food at the event.
Lincoln BPA members and the town’s chamber of commerce are selling the tickets, with a maximum of 500 available.
The inaugural event took place at The Archive, but it was so popular that a larger venue was sought last year at Golay Community Center.
This year’s contest will return to Golay, 1007 E. Main St., Cambridge City.
Most of the restaurants that participated last year will return, and two Richmond eateries are joining, The Cordial Cork and Radford’s Meat Market & Deli.
Guests also can sample dishes from Pizza 3.14, Reid Health’s Cafe at Twelve Hundred, Lakeview Restaurant, Lumpy’s Cafe, No. 9 Grill and Willie & Red’s.
Pizza 3.14 won last year’s top prize, followed by Willie and Red’s. Awards for third place and best display both went to Main Street Sweets Café, which just closed for remodeling and an ownership transition.
Guests leaving with full stomachs and the BPA students might be considered the night’s big winners.
The event serves as both a marketing project and a fundraiser for the LHS chapter.
“It gets the BPA name out into the community, allowing them to see what the organization is all about,” said BPA adviser Bonita Klein. “It also helps to show the community that the Cambridge City Chamber of Commerce is philanthropic and concerned with the needs of the community.”
Harrington-Hoch Insurance, Sarah Pennington, is providing water, Wayne Bank will provide plaques for winners, and the Cambridge City Chamber of Commerce is helping out with promotions and other expenses.
The students are responsible for organizing the event before and helping out the evening of the contest.
Last year, Lincoln BPA had 47 members attending the state conference, and this year, 53 members qualified to participate.
In addition to the mac and cheese contest, BPA students are planning their annual Neon Glow 5K on Friday, April 12, to help raise additional funds for nationals. Registration forms for the 5K will be available after the group’s state leadership conference.
Donations may also be mailed to Klein’s attention at Lincoln High School, 205 E. Parkway Drive, Cambridge City, IN 47327.
Those with additional questions may contact Chamber president Beth Leisure at (765) 478-4689 or Klein at (765) 478-5916.
By Millicent Martin Emery