Bel Air High School foods teacher Mandi Scott has dedicated her life to a culinary career path, and it certainly paid off as she recently won the 2015 Pastry Chef of the Year Award from the Harrisburg Chapter of the American Culinary Federation.

Although there were two other candidates that were also teachers at BAHS, it was a surprise to her that she was able to achieve this success. Her passion and love for the culinary arts shined through in the competition.

“Both of them (the other two candidates) are fantastic, so I was sure I wouldn’t win.” Says Mandi Scott on her award.  “It was kind of unbelievable. I wasn’t exactly sure how it happened.”

She has been a dedicated chef and mentor, but she didn’t always foresee this future. Scott went to school for a degree in art, but realized that foods was her rightful place.

Scott said “It was my dream… and I was really excited about it, but wondered how I would turn the degree into a career.”

Mandi Scott built off of her degree and got a job in a commercial kitchen, where she teaches others to decorate desserts and pastries.

She now resides at Bel Air High School where she “helps other students find their path” for the future, while finding the happiness in the ability to have professional and personal success in the job she loves.