A Kansas City Teen Finds the Recipe for Success to Become The Art Institutes' Best Teen Chef 2009

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Champ's Win Marks Tenth Anniversary of Prestigious Culinary Competition

For Sammy Jo Claussen, a high school senior from Kansas City, keeping her cool in the kitchen today paid off big, emerging as The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes "Best Teen Chef 2009."   Sammy Jo won the Best Teen Chef Final Round Competition, sponsored by The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes, becoming the tenth teenager to lay claim to the title since the Competition’s inception in 2000. The young and talented Sammy Jo  won a full- tuition scholarship to study Culinary Arts at The International Culinary School at The Art Institutes International –  Kansas City, and the opportunity to serve as “Intern for a Day” in the Food Network Kitchens. The annual event was held this year at The Art Institute of Charlotte. 

Kaitlyn McKissick  of Olathe, Kan., earned second-place honors, receiving a half-tuition scholarship to study Culinary Arts at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Colorado.  Oscar Melendez of Los Angeles earned third-place honors, receiving a quarter-tuition scholarship to study Culinary Arts at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles. 

Thirty-four high school seniors from across North America converged at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Charlotte to slice, dice, and simmer their way through the grueling two-hour competition in pursuit of more than $200,000 in tuition scholarships and the title of Best Teen Chef 2009.