Cape senior wins first place in food safety poster contest

Cape High senior Kaitlyn Cortez bested students from six high schools to earn first place in a statewide food safety poster contest.

Kaitlyn’s poster, “Food Safety is in Your Hands,” earned top prize in the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s National Food Safety Month promotional contest in September.

Foundation Director of Education Raelynn Grogan said the contest was designed to engage culinary and management students, and promote food safety practices.

“Your poster was extremely creative, very informative, and most importantly, we recognized the hard work you put into this project,” Grogan said.

Kaitlyn’s poster, which depicts seven steps of proper handwashing, earned her a certificate, $150 Visa gift card, class pizza party and $500 toward the Cape High culinary pathway ProStart Educator Fund.

Cape High culinary teacher Kimberly Bailey-Thomas said funds will be used to offset expenses such as uniforms or hotel stays for students entering ProStart competitions. ProStart is a nationwide high school culinary curriculum that provides students with real-life career opportunities.

“Kaitlyn has such talent as an artist and in our culinary program,” Bailey-Thomas said.