Holiday Chocolate House Auction to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

Chocolate "buildings" constructed by students in Pennsylvania College of Technology's School of Hospitality will be auctioned Dec. 7 during the college's annual "House for a Home" event to benefit the Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity.

Students enrolled in a course called "Principles of Chocolate Works" spend weeks beginning at the end of October designing and building their chocolate structures, which this year will take the form of a church, a lighthouse, a farm, Victorian homes and stone cottages, complete with candy details. The class is taught by Chef Charles R. Niedermyer, instructor of baking and pastry arts/culinary arts.

Houses can be viewed during the School of Hospitality's annual Food Show, to be held Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Silent bids will be taken during that time, with high bidders to be announced at 1 p.m.

Following, at 1:15 p.m., a live auction of student-created holiday goodies, including chocolate boxes filled with truffles, cookie trays, chocolate decadence, yule logs and more will be hosted by auctioneer Scott Younkin, of Linden, to add funds to the Habitat for Humanity donation.

The public is invited to participate in both the silent auction and the live auction, both to be held on campus in the Thompson Professional Development Center, Mountain Laurel Room. Last year's event raised nearly $1,200 for the local charity.

Chocolate-home builders are: Callie L. Chalmers, Galeton; Aaron D. Hileman, Altoona; Laura B. Immel, Muncy; Kristan N. Kessler, Elysburg; Jonathan J. Lander, King of Prussia; Krystal L. Lewis, Athens; Megan E. Lewis, Pine City, N.Y.; Deandra M. Lupacckino, Reading; Katie R. Mengle, Bloomsburg; Derek Richards, Lititz; Amanda N. Schlott, Laureldale; Katherine R. Scoda, Red Bank, N.J.; and Tiffany L. Williams, Tyrone.

Also displayed during the Food Show will be final projects from students in advanced courses, including "Cakes and Decorations," "Advanced Garde Manger," "Classical and Specialty Desserts," "Artistic Buffet Decoration," and "Classical Cuisines of the World." The projects will be judged by some of the region's top chefs.

For more information about the academic programs offered by the School of Hospitality at Penn College, visit online or call (570) 327-4505.

For more information about Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.