Famed Decorator Sponsors Student Cake Contest
Published 03.14.2008
Pennsylvania College of Technology students will compete in the third annual "CalJava Wedding Cake Contest," scheduled for May 5 on the college's main campus in Williamsport.
The contest was conceived and is sponsored by Daniel Budiman, CEO of CalJava International. Budiman has twice visited Penn College to offer demonstrations to students, which led him to establish the contest to encourage baking and pastry arts students to push their talents to the next level in artistic cake decorating.
Students in the college's advanced cake decorating course will compete for a grand prize a trip to California to attend a class of their choice at CalJava International's School of Cake Decorating and Sugarcrafts. The prize, worth at least $2,000, includes airfare and accommodations.
CalJava is also sponsoring prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners of $300, $200 and $100.
In pursuit of the prizes, students will design three-tiered cakes and decorate their tables to illustrate this year's "Wedding Gift Bags" theme.
Judging for the contest will take place May 5, with an awards ceremony scheduled at 1 p.m. in the college's Penn's Inn facility. The competition cakes, along with student-created chocolate and sugar-art centerpieces and all-occasion cakes, will be on display for the public from 1 to 3 p.m. on May 5 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 6.
Those who visit the display may donate cash to cast votes for the People's Choice Award winner. The money will be given to the Williamsport YWCA's Liberty House, which provides rooms for homeless women (and women with children) and programs to assist them in becoming self-sufficient.
Budiman earned fame for his unique wedding-cake designs before opening CalJava International, based in Northridge, Calif., which distributes cake-decorating supplies worldwide. For more information about CalJava International or Here Comes the Cake, visit online.
To learn more about the academic programs offered by the School of Hospitality at Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call (570) 327-4505.
For more information about Penn College, visit online, e-mail or call (800) 367-9222.