The smell of chili will soon fill the air of EPCC during the scholarship-fundraising Chili Cook-Off.
The Student Technology Center (STS), organizer of the event, is looking to recruit cooks in time for the scheduled July 12 occasion.
“We are hoping that a lot of departments and clubs come out to set up a booth or table to promote their area,” said Debra Stoppiro, STS manager.
The entrance fee for cooks is $18, and according to Stoppiro, $15 goes toward scholarships and $3 goes to the national chili organization which is sanctioned by The Chili Appreciation Society International.
Stoppiro said that the cooks are to arrive at the Valle Verde campus patio, between buildings B and C before 10 a.m. to set up. Cooking will go on until 2 p.m. and judges and other chili-tasters, whom must pay a $2 entrance fee, will sample the entries until 4 p.m. Afterward, the winners will be announced.The top ten will be given trophies. In addition, there will also be a competition category for best show, in which the top three will be selected.
In the last Chili Cook-Off event, which was organized by the Sign Club, Stoppiro and her family had their own chili booth and won for the show category, Stoppiro said.
“We had a little ball toss, and you won a prize, real simple,” said Stoppiro. “Every time you have a sanctioned Chili Cook-Off, you must have three shows at least. They can be anything from crowd participation, to things for them to look at.”
Stoppiro said the crowd participation category is a competition meant to get everyone involved and make the cook-off fun for more than just the cooks.
“It is simply to entertain the crowd and bring out people,” she said.
Brenda Reyes, student, attended the last event, which took place last February. “I participated in the last cook-off, and even though I did not win, I was very happy to enjoy with my family the cooking and the experience of being a judge.” Carlos Barrera, student, will be participating in the up-coming event as a cook.
“I am planning to get all my friends and cook all together to help raise money for scholarships,” he said. “I like it when the school makes familiar events accessible to everyone.”
Stoppiro said that the scholarship funds raised will only be awarded to certain students.
“We are shooting for about $500 for this event,” she said. “It is the STS scholarships, so only STS students are eligible.” There will also be other activities such as raffles and jumping balloon houses for children, beginning around 11:30 a.m. Stoppiro, a member of the local chili organization, El Paso Pod of the Pass, said that she encouraged STS to create this event and thought it would be fun to do for the college.
“This is the first Chili Cook-Off for STS and hopefully it will become an annual event.”
For information contact Debra Stoppiro at 831-6406/6407, or on her cell phone at 373-0128.
