OSU Food Science Quiz Bowl team takes first place
By Allison Richard
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma State University Food Science Quiz Bowl Team took first place in the South Central Regional Institute of Food Technologists College Bowl held April 2, 2004 on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge, La.
The competition consisted of nine rounds of double elimination, and OSU was the only team to win all of its rounds. The team is now headed to the national competition that will take place in Las Vegas, Nev. during the July IFT annual meeting.
Six other teams competed in the bowl competition including Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, Texas Tech and the University of Arkansas.
"The competition was tough, so we are all pretty excited we're going to compete in the national competition held in Las Vegas," said Michael Eisenmenger, team captain and food science graduate student.
Other team members include Bangalore Dharmendra, Alissa Barrett, Chern Lin Koh and alternates Ramakanth Jonnala, Dimple Kundiyana and Pelin Koz.
This is the second year that the OSU Food Science Quiz Bowl team has won the South Central Regional competition and advanced to the national competition.
The team began training for the competition in January. Practices were held once a week to prepare them for the regional competition and will continue until after the national competition, said Nurhan Dunford, oil/oilseed chemist for the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center and team advisor.
"The team has worked extremely hard and is continuing to work hard preparing for the competitions," Dunford said. "The team's success in the regional competition is a result of their hard work and determination. I have confidence that the team will do very well in the national competition."
Other individuals assisting Dunford in coaching the team include William McGlynn, FAPC horticultural processing specialist, and Christina Dewitt, Animal Science assistant professor.
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