In her debut run competing in the Skills USA California State Championships in Ontario on April 11th, 2025, 16-year-old Analy sophomore Grace Vogel took the gold in the Culinary division. Skills USA is the largest Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) in the world, and Grace will now advance to the National championships in Atlanta, Georgia.
Grace, who also serves as President of the Analy chapter of Skills USA, is coached by her culinary advisor, Sarah Piccolo, and this is the first year Analy has competed in Skills USA. Grace first took bronze in the regional competition in January before advancing to the state championship. Through many hours of practice coupled with her strong work ethic, she outshined her competition and impressed the judges with her final presentation, which included: chicken fabrication, homemade stock, consomme with a custard garnish, salad with an emulsified vinaigrette, a roasted airline breast with a mushroom pan sauce, rice pilaf, and glazed, oblique cut carrots. She also completed a 50-question skills exam and had to follow a rigorous rubric grading her organizational skills, sanitation, presentation, clean-up, and, of course, flavor.
In June, Grace will advance to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Congratulations, Grace!