DHS staff hold a cook-off yearly. Last year, they were about to do one, but unfortunately, no one had time. Holly Teyler-Crowder, a DHS counselor, hosts the soup cook-off.
DHS counselor Shawna Magtutu helps Crowder host the cook-off,
Most staff members tried the soups. Eight people joined the cook-off to show off their cooking skills to the staff. There were three cook-off winners.
The winners of the soup cook-off were Tonya Mackendrick, Natalie Parkerson, and Alicia Bechard. Crowder said, “We have grant money, so that’s always helped with the prizes. Mackendrick won a portable blender, Parkerson won a thermos, and Bechard won a soup cup which warms up soup.”
Mackendrick made a green chili, Parkerson made tomato bisque, and Bechard made a Mexican corn chowder. Crowder said that whenever she gives out rewards to the winners, she always tries to match them with the theme.
Even though they might not have done the cook-off last year, they still managed to do it this year. Once someone wins the cook-off Crowder takes a photo of the winner with the prize they’ve won. Crowder said wherever she won, she would give the prize to the other person who was next in line so they could have the opportunity to win.
The cook-off is just for fun and it’s why the DHS staff tries to do it yearly. They’ve also done a dip day and other activities for staff members.
Principal Roseann Johnson said, “Youth Connections is a grant we get from a corporation called Colorado Education Initiative. They’re a non-profit organization that gives grants to different schools to set goals for them to improve and get better at serving their students.” Principal Johnson commented that the Youth Connections grant gives them money, they use that money for after-school clubs and for other fun school activities. But not only does the grant money help them with that, it also helps them with getting prizes for staff when they win an event for staff like the cook-off.
