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Student judges select bake-off winners

In order to be a good baker, students “knead” to know the basics.

Bradley students went head-to-head in a bake-off competition hosted by Kappa Phi on Wednesday.

This event created an opportunity for students to show off their baking skills by selecting a dessert to make from nine categories. The categories included: cakes, cookies, gluten-free, “Go Nuts,” classic dessert and “Made in your Microwave.”

“The goal of the bake-off is to provide a fun way for students to contribute to a fundraiser,” senior computer science major and Kappa Phi member Colleen Heinemann said.

Seven students baked for the competition, where gluten-free cookies, popcorn with chocolate drizzle, s’mores and chocolate pudding dirt cups were among the treats made.

“I like to bake a lot; it’s fun,” sophomore marketing major Warren Gillies said. “[For the bake-off], I made a red velvet truffle with a custom-made chocolate. This competition is a good way to see what others think of my baking.”

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., people with a sweet tooth visited Olin Quad to judge the desserts.

“I love to support campus organizations, and I love to eat,” Prospect Research Analyst Kari Garman said. “At this event, you get to try so many things for such a great price.”

In order to be a judge, attendees paid $1 to taste test two treats or $5 to try an unlimited amount.

According to sophomore public relations major and Kappa Phi member Katrina Hauser, a tally system was used to keep track of the most popular desserts in each category.

Gillies won the bake-off with his red velvet truffles. Senior nursing major Allison Simmons came in second for her chocolate chip cookie-cups and junior health science major Lauren Sebade took third place for her Funfetti Cupcakes.

For the winners of the competition, prizes included a $50 gift card to Crusens, two Peoria Chiefs game tickets and tickets for the Sprit of Peoria.

Kappa Phi is a Christian-based organization. According to Heinemann, the money raised from the bake-off will enable the club to send two delegates to the national conference in July.

The national event takes place bi-annually in Kansas, where the first chapter originated. This year is the 100th anniversary of Kappa Phi.

“The goal of Kappa Phi is to find good Christian girls that want to be a part of a group that have similar values and the same faith as them,” Heinemann said.

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