A Glens Falls High School senior is celebrating a major win! Bella McMahon has taken home the top prize at the SkillsUSA state competition for culinary arts, held in Syracuse. Now, she’s set to compete at the national SkillsUSA event in Atlanta next month.
Bella, who is 17, credits her success to her time at Southern Adirondack BOCES and the unwavering support of her family. Her culinary journey began early, fueled by a love for Food Network and YouTube cake decorating videos she watched with her grandma. This early encouragement, especially from her grandmother, sparked her passion and creativity in the kitchen.
Bella spends her mornings honing her skills at BOCES, where she praises her instructors, calling them “incredible” and highlighting the program’s excellent training. She feels the BOCES program prepared her well for her future as a chef. Her advice for aspiring culinary students? Embrace the process, learn from mistakes, and never stop practicing.