Released on = March 17, 2007, 12:58 pm

Press Release Author = Arlene Wites / The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = Boca Teen Wins Local Culinary Contest at Art Institute of
Fort Lauderdale, now goes on to try for national win and full scholarship in The
Best Teen Chef 2007

Press Release Body = Ft. Lauderdale, FL - March 17, 2007 - Today, at The Art
Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Micah Tucker a senior at West Boca Raton High, won
first place and the gold medal at The Art Institutes Best Teen Chef 2007 Local
Culinary Competition. Now, it's on to Dallas, Texas, where on Saturday, May 5, he
will compete with 22 other high school seniors for a chance of taking the Best Teen
Chef title and a full-tuition scholarship worth approximately $40,000.

"I can't believe I won," said Micah. "I was really nervous and the competition was
tough. The judges walk around and watch what you're doing and shout out how much
time is left. But I just focused on the basics."

Judges were The Art Institutes Culinary Arts Ambassador and former Culinary Chair at
The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Master Chef Klaus Friedenreich, current Art
Institute of Fort Lauderdale Chef Director Jack Kane, Chef Lucy Mawhinney, and
student judge Alison Friedman.

"We had an exceptional group of competitor here today who prepared a menu of Shrimp
Cocktail, Sautéed Breast of Chicken, Fresh Broccoli, and Rice Pilaf," said Chef
Kane. "They all did extremely well but we can only send one to Dallas." The
participants included: second place winner and silver medalist Maria Lowenthal, of
Weston, FL; third place winner and bronze medalist Travis Boles, of Naples, FL;
Sarina Riley, of Oakland Park, FL; and Jodi-Lee Morrison, of Lauderhill, FL.

Participating Art Institute campuses include The Art Institute of Atlanta, The Art
Institute of California-Inland Empire, The Art Institute of California-Los Angeles,
The Art Institute of California-Orange County, The Art Institute of Dallas, The Art
Institute of Fort Lauderdale, The Art Institute of Houston, The Art Institute of
Indianapolis, The Culinary Institute of Las Vegas, a division of The Art Institute
of Las Vegas, The Art Institutes International Minnesota, The Art Institute of New
York City, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, The Art Institute of Phoenix, The Art
Institute of Pittsburgh, The Art Institute of Seattle, The Art Institute of
Tennessee-Nashville, The Art Institute of Tampa, The Art Institute of Vancouver, The
Art Institute of Washington, and The Art Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago.

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale www.aifl.edeu is one of The Art Institutes
(www.artinstitutes.edu/btc), with 34 educational institutions located throughout
North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and
culinary professionals.

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BIO
Micha Tucker, 18 year-old senior at West Boca High School, started cooking when he
was 10 years old. "I like to eat," Micah confesses. He loved to watch and still
enjoys watching cooking shows on television and his uncle, who is a chef, inspired
Micah to continue pursuing cooking. When he's not in school, Micah works six days a
week at an upscale restaurant in Boca Raton called Bistro Zenith where he is a line
cook and sous chef. When he's not working, Micah volunteers for charity events
sponsored by the American Culinary Federation. Upon graduation, Micah hopes to own a
restaurant, become a certified executive chef, a personal chef, and chef instructor.
His favorite dish to make is mushroom spinach gouda stuffed chicken breasts with
yellow rice and asparagus and orange jus lie.



Web Site = http://www.aifl.edu

Contact Details = 1799 SE 17 Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316