The first Lockport Township High School student to compete nationally recently earned a gold medal with Team Illinois at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America national competition.
Tim Behland Jr. competed with Quin Santucci, of Maine West High School, and Jamie Fisher, of St. Charles North High School, at the Art Institute of California at San Diego. The team was scored by chef judges.
On July 6, they completed a half an hour of mise en place, where they made time plans, plate drawings, got their kitchen organized and cleaned produce. They had one hour to cook a tossed salad with red wine vinaigrette; steak Diane, which is a fillet served with a classical mushroom sauce; green beans and roasted potatoes; and French crepes with fresh whipped cream and an assortment of berries.
At the scholarship ceremony, each Team Illinois student earned more than $43,000.