Bring your appetite to this year’s annual chili cook-off, hosted by the OCCC Faculty Association. The event will take place Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the coffee shop in the Main Building.
The Faculty Association holds the cook-off each year to raise money for student scholarships. Eligible students are nominated by faculty members and must also submit an essay to apply.
“All of the profits that we make from the fundraiser go to students for that year,” said Sarah Baker, a member of the Faculty Association Committee who serves as director of the speech-language pathology program at OCCC.
Scholarship funds help cover tuition costs for recipients. Taylor Raugh, a former scholarship winner, expressed deep gratitude to Baker and the Faculty Association as a whole for the assistance.
“I want to thank you for the generous financial support towards my degree in the speech-language pathology assistant program,” Raugh said. “I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for this scholarship.
Pulling off the annual chili cook-off takes real teamwork.
“We ask members of the Faculty Association to contribute,” Baker said. “We collect about 20 crockpots of chili that faculty members have donated.”
Participants compete in categories such as Best Tasting, Most Creative and Tongue Burner. Hot dogs and Fritos are also served alongside the chili.
Last year, about seven students received $300 scholarships through the event. One faculty member also takes home top honors each year. Dr. Liz Largent, vice president for academic affairs, was last year’s chili cook-off champion. History Professor Jeffrey Carlisle’s class donated baked goods to support the fundraiser, and OCCC President Mautra Jones helped judge the competition.
The Faculty Association also hosts a bake sale each spring to raise additional scholarship funds.
Baker, who joined the Faculty Association Committee in 2022, said the role fits her perfectly.
“I have always been active in professional associations,” she said. “I think it’s very important for us to support each other around the college. I also like giving out money to students. It’s a good fit for me.”
The Faculty Association’s mission is to improve the academic environment at OCCC, advocate for faculty needs and goals, and serve as a direct line of communication between faculty and administration.
