Events
Students Strike Gold at Elite ACF Competition
RALEIGH, N.C. (February 26, 2026) – Wake Tech culinary and baking students showcased exceptional creativity and technical skill Thursday at the North Carolina American Culinary Federation (ACF) competition held at the Scott Northern Wake Campus – the largest event of its kind in the country.
Students earned an impressive 49 medals for their chocolate showpieces, sugar artistry and decorative wedding cakes: 20 gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze.
Judges evaluated each entry using the official ACF scoring scale, assessing artistry, craftsmanship, theme and presentation.
Among the top honors, Claire Olinger received a Best in Show medal for a wedding cake inspired by her own baking journey. Olinger, who graduates in May, designed a three‑tiered cake adorned with miniature replicas of pastries and desserts she learned to make while pursuing her Baking & Pastry Arts degree. The cake is topped with a handcrafted miniature sculpture of herself smiling beside her creation.
"I've really loved my experience at Wake Tech," Olinger said. "This design is a love letter to my time here!"
The ACF competition is a class project for students in Wake Tech's associate degree programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. The programs prepare students for quick entry into the culinary and baking professions. With experience, graduates can move from beginner jobs to more advanced positions such as sous chef, food services manager, pastry chef and bakery manager. Wake Tech also offers a degree in Hospitality Management.
