Lamar students take prizes in gingerbread competition

12/5/2008 Lamar University students won four of five top places in the 2008 Gingerbread Charity Competition benefitting Buckner Children and Family Services. Jennifer Weitzel of Cleveland earned first place in the student division for her artful, edible creation, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” which also took honors as best of show. Jose Perales of Beaumont won second place for “Ginger Hacienda,” and Sendi Gardner of Port Arthur won third place for “Garsen House.” Honorable mention went to Lamar students Kimberley Wade of Lufkin for “It’s All Wrapped Up” and Annika Bloch of Oklahoma City for “Tropic” and to Elise Robinson and Kaylyn Perry of Beaumont, students at Hardin-Jefferson High School, for “Candy Cabin.” In the property division, Cynthia Espinoza of Calder Woods Retirement Community won first place. Honorable mention went to Glenda Shaw and her Taylor Career and Technology Center students in the Beaumont school district. The McFaddin-Ward House hosted the competition, which was overseen by Charles Duit, chef instructor at Lamar. The Golden Triangle Chapter of the Texas Chefs Association and the Lamar University Hospitality Program sponsored the competition, which attracted 16 entries. Other Lamar students submitting entries are Joe Guidry of Anahuac and Holly Hammond, Jessica Boulos and Louann Walker, all of Beaumont. The gingerbread houses will remain on display as a silent auction until 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the McFaddin-Ward House visitor center, 1906 Calder Ave. at Third Street in Beaumont. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Celebrity judges selecting the winners were Nell McCallum-Morris, a Buckner trustee; Diane Dean of the Dean Report on KBMT-TV, Channel 12; and Ashley Sanders, features editor of the Beaumont Enterprise. They based their decisions on degree of difficulty, artistic achievement, work involved, originality and total appearance. Rules required that houses be original and made of 100 percent edible food items, except for candy wrappers and the baseboards for displays.