Cherry Hill Student Wins College Cake Competition

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Rowan College at Burlington County student from Cherry Hill took home the top student prize at the Let Them Eat Cake competition held in Philadelphia last month.

Mark Keating and his partner, Olivia McCaw, of Cinnaminson, defeated more than two dozen of the region’s best bakers, the college said on Thursday.

“Olivia and I weren't even entering the contest to win,” Keating said. “We thought it would just be a good time doing something we both love. It was our first time in a cake competition and it was the first time RCBC sent anyone to the competition as well.”

“The theme of the event was childhood fun and fantasy, in which we chose Candyland,” McCaw said. “Our cake was a play on a tiramisu: vanilla bean cake soaked in a coffee and rum simple syrup filled with a cream cheese mousse and covered in a Swiss buttercream.”

The competition served as a fundraiser for Variety, the Children’s Charity, which improves the quality of life for children with special needs.

“Olivia and Mark's dedication to their craft and developing their talent were key attributes to their success in the competition,” said Chef James Brudnicki, Interim Director of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism. “Successful students like these are a big reason that we are recognized as one of the top culinary schools in New Jersey."

The attached image of Mark Keating and Olivia McCaw was provided by Rowan College at Burlington County.