Filling the Kansas State Student Union courtyard with prizes and free cupcakes, the Union Program Council hosted its Battle of the Cupcakes decorating contest Tuesday afternoon.
Charlsie Fowler, junior in apparel and textiles and UPC Arts co-chair, said she came up with the idea for the event a year ago to showcase the culinary arts on campus.
“I knew that the popular Food Network show ‘Cupcake Wars’ was incredibly popular among the college demographic and I love the show myself, so I wanted to create an event that was similar that everyone could enjoy,” Fowler said.
Fowler and UPC Arts co-chair Jaliyah Brown, senior in apparel and textiles, began to plan the event and spread the word, which included hanging signs, ordering cupcakes and buying out the Hy-Vee candy aisle.
Alvaro Herrera, research assistant in biochemistry molecular biophysics, said he quickly added Battle of the Cupcakes to his calendar after he received an email about the event.
“When I have a chance, I come and check out the events,” Herrera said. “It’s always something fun, something to do, and I like cupcakes.”
Students filled the Union courtyard as the smell of sugar spread through the area.
UPC provided 400 undecorated cupcakes for students to decorate with candy, frosting and more. Students crafted original cupcake designs or Googled extreme designs in hopes of impressing the judges and satisfying their hungry stomachs.
Gehrig Geissinger, freshman in biology, said he was excited about the cupcakes, but the battle was his priority.
“I made a lush nature scene of bears fishing for salmon by using Swedish Fish and Teddy Grahams,” Geissinger said. “Hopefully, it’s a winner.”
After contestants finished decorating their cupcakes, Brown took pictures of each cupcake. A group of anonymous judges will deliberate today, and the winner of the contest will receive a $20 gift card to Hazel Hill Chocolate.
Georgeanna Stockemer, freshman in bakery science, said she was excited for this event because it gave her the opportunity to use her extensive culinary skills.
“We have bakery science club every week, but this was cool because it was in the Union instead of Shellenburger,” Stockemer said.
For students who were caught in the hustle and bustle of classes or were not confident in their frosting abilities, 100 pre-frosted cupcakes were available.
UPC will also host a farmer’s market today at Bosco Student Plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as the Lunchtime Lounge Friday at noon in the Union courtyard featuring music from Among the Wilderness.
