As the high school careers of thousands of local students conclude this month, many will begin making plans and preparing for life at college and tackling their studies.

Rosehill Christian School graduating senior Faith Longnecker will be making those same preparations, but she will be doing so in a kitchen rather than in a classroom. Longnecker will attend the Art Institute of Houston where she will study to become a professional pastry chef.

Longnecker got a glimpse of what her chosen career path may entail when she was selected to take part in the Art Institute’s Teen Chef Competition.

Pictured, Rosehill Christian graduating senior Faith Longnecker recently took part in the Art Institute’s Teen Chef Competition.

Submitted Photo

In order to be selected, Longnecker submitted a recipe she created, photographed her selected dish and wrote an essay on why she should be chosen for the competition. Longnecker was chosen among ten other contestants from across the southwest region.

The competition included Longnecker and the other finalists to prepare a pre-determined dish that included shrimp cocktail, chicken, broccoli and rice pilaf. With plans to earn a master’s in Culinary Management with a major in Pastry, Longnecker was somewhat out of her element.

“With 11 competitors running through the kitchen and several chefs watching our every move and judging us, my thought was to make certain not to contaminate my ingredients with the raw chicken I had been given,” Longnecker said.

Not only were the contestants judged on taste of their creations, but also preparation, temperature and presentation.

At the conclusion of the Iron Chef-like competition, Longnecker finished in third place and earned a $1,500 scholarship. She was the only female to place in the competition.

But rather than use the money for her own education, Longnecker opted to help her best friend, Jessica Woodard.

“I had made a deal with my dad that whatever scholarship money I won in the competition, it would be given towards Jessica’s college fund,” Longnecker said. “I was not winning for my own pleasure, but to help my best friend.”

Longnecker said her interest in baking and cooking began a few years ago.

“I wanted to be like my mom, she’s a really good cook and baker,” she said.

Longnecker has already initiated her own pastry business venture, DolciTreats, which operates through its website and word-of-mouth. The money she earned through her company she donated to her school and church events.

Last fall, Longnecker raised $800 for Living Water International by selling her creations at her father, Brent’s, office.

Longnecker decided to pursue her education at the Art Institute through a friend at her church, who also attends the school and is a pastry chef.

“She said it’s hard, but it’s a good hard,” Longnecker said.

Her goal is to finish classes in three to four years and open her own bakery.

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