By Trina A San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Public School System held its first annual Cake Decorating Challenge Saturday afternoon at the Micronesia Mall in Dededo, with two Simon Sanchez High School seniors winning the challenge.
Mark Sunga took the first place while his classmate Diane Masga took the second place.
Judges in the competition included individuals from Guam’s private sector and the military. But judges weren’t the only ones who chose the winners, as there was a People’s Choice Award in which those present purchased a ballot to cast their vote for their favorite cake decorator.
Dolores Rosario, a George Washington High School teacher of Consumer and Family Science classes, said the money donated would go back into their classrooms to purchase materials for students taking up such classes.
The people in the competition voted for Masga, who now has that trophy, as well as the second place trophy at home.
At third place was George Washington High School senior Monique Pruyne, of Sinajana.
The contestants were all from GWHS and SSHS who had to create their masterpieces in just two and a half hours, similar to some cake decorating contests on the Food Network channel. There were a total of eight contestants, a majority of them from GWHS. However, Rosario said she wants to see more high schools in next year’s competition.
“This is our first cake decorating contest and they developed their skills within the course of one month. We are hoping next year that we have more schools to come out and compete. We continue to invite and encourage other students and schools. With this contest, we didn’t have much time to plan. Now that we have done the first one, we can start planning for the second annual event,” said Rosario.
Rosario added that cake decorating is not the only thing she and her students focus on in the classroom.
“We don’t really focus on cake decorating. We were just approached by the Guam Education Policy Board and this was actually a special interest when they conducted a survey. I think the students chose this because they see it a lot on television. We learn a lot of other skills, including beverages with homemade ingredients, and we take it all the way to the main course entrée,” added Rosario.
The event was coordinated by the GPSS Division of Curriculum and Instruction with sponsorship from several local businesses that helped with advertising, ingredients for the students, prizes, and venue support, according to GPSS spokesperson Gerry Cruz.
Present to give the trophies and certificates were Superintendent of Education Luis Reyes and Guam Education Policy Board chairman Peter Alexcis Ada.