Students in Oakland Community College’s Culinary program won several honors in recent ice carving competitions under the guidance of Chef Doug Ganhs of the OCC culinary faculty.  “Our excellent showing in these events reflects both the quality of OCC’s program and the caliber of our students”, Chef Ganhs said.

The OCC team, which had been a runner-up for the previous five years, scored the biggest team total and a national championship at the National Ice Carving Competition in Frankenmuth, January 25-27.  The OCC group competed against opposing teams from three U.S. states and Mexico.

In the January 25 “Under the Stars” contest, students Jonathan Sanow of Canton and Benjamin Goebel of Whitmore Lake took bronze medals, placing first and third, respectively for their carvings of fish.

On January 26 Sanow took a first (silver) for his carving of a crane, while Goebel took a second (bronze) for his iguana.  Scott Abbey of Farmington Hills won fifth place, a bronze, for his carving of a vixen fish.

In the January 27 team competition Sanow and Golden took first place with their carving of a dragon, and Abbey and Gemiel Franklin of Southfield won a fourth.

OCC students also swept the 26^th annual Ice Sculpture Competition against 12 competitors representing local community colleges in Plymouth on January 26.  Clinton Rich (who has since left the state) won a first, Tyler Coleman of Royal Oak came in second, and Jolie Skwierz of Farmington took fourth place.

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