Cooking up Change Co-Chair Melissa Graham of Purple Asparagus and Monogramme Events & Catering presents the healthy cooking contest award in the appetizer category.

A student chef prepares for the culinary competition

Cooking up Change Emcee Enrique Rodriguez of Univision Chicago (Channel 66) with his wife Olga and son Enrique Ivan

Cooking up Change Co-Chair Michelle Hassan and David Blackmon, both of the Chicago Public Schools Education to Careers program

Student chefs prepare appetizers for the culinary competition

Cooking up Change Emcee Enrique Rodriguez with community leaders from HSC partner West Town Leadership United

Student chefs from Manley Career Academy High School prepare desserts for the culinary competition and a special presentation to event organizers

Cooking up Change Emcee Enrique Rodriguez with community leaders from Parents United for Healthy Schools

A student chef prepares for the healthy cooking contest

HSC marathon team member Luis Rodriguez and David Amarathithada

A student chef slices tomatoes in preparation for the culinary competition

Marc Ochoa of the Chicago Teachers Union with colleagues

Student chefs prepare appetizers for the benefit

HSC Board Member Michael DeSantiago of Primera Ltd. with colleagues

Student chefs prepare appetizers for the benefit

HSC Board Member Jim Reed (right) with an Illinois Education Association colleague

Culinary students enjoy preparations for the competition and benefit

Guests enjoy the Cooking up Change benefit: Jackie Kendall of Midwest Academy, HSC Board Member Lynda DeLaforgue of Citizen Action Illinois, State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, and Host Committee Member Jack Kaplan

A student chef from Corliss High School prepares for the culinary competition

Cooking up Change Judge Chef Clifford Rome of the Parkway Ballroom samples entries in the healthy cooking contest

Student chefs from Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA) present their award-winning "school lunch" entry of red beans and rice with smothered cabbage and candied carrots. The CVCA meal placed first in the category and will be served in high schools throughout Chicago on Jan. 30.

Cooking up Change Judge Chris Ely of presenting sponsor Applegate Farms makes notes about an entry in the healthy cooking contest

Cooking up Change Judge Gwen Macsai of NPR talks with student chefs at the competition

Cooking up Change Judge Bob Bloomer of Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality tastes a student creation in the culinary competition as Judge Carmen Cenko looks on and Judge Cheryl Desir talks with student chefs

A student chef from Chicago Vocational Career Academy presents her team’s award-winning Jive Turkey Dip appetizer

Ambassador Carol Mosely Braun, a cooking contest judge, speaks with student chefs in the competition

Students from Chicago Vocational Career Academy celebrate their first-place wins in the school lunch and appetizer categories of the healthy cooking contest

Cooking contest judge Cheryl Desir of Wolfgang Puck Catering samples an appetizer in the competition

Student chefs from Dunbar Vocational Career Academy take a break from their preparations for the healthy cooking contest. The Dunbar team won the audience choice award for appetizers with their Tilapia Tostadas with Peach & Sour Cream.

Cooking contest judge Abraham Dueñas of Catedral Café speaks with student chefs

Student chefs from Hyde Park Academy High School consult with their culinary instructors in preparation for the healthy cooking contest

Cooking up Change Judge Louise Esaian of Chicago Public Schools samples an entry in the healthy cooking contest

Student chefs from Julian High School prepare for the healthy cooking contest

Cooking Contest Judge Chef Lisa Gershenson of the Greater Chicago Food Depository tastes a cooking contest entry

A student chef from North Grand High School arranges items for the healthy cooking contest

Cooking up Change Judge Carol Haddix of the Chicago Tribune talks with student chefs about their creations

Student chefs prepare individual servings for the cooking contest judges to sample

Cooking up Change judge Monique Jamet Hooker makes notes about a student entry in the contest

Students prepare for the healthy cooking contest

Cooking up Change Co-Chair and contest Judge Phil Mott of Kendall College reviews contest entries alongside Judge Mary McMahon

A student chef from Prosser Career Academy prepares veggie medley pico de gallo for her team’s entry in the school lunch category

Cooking contest Judge Chef Clifford Rome of the Parkway Ballroom with a Cooking up Change guest

Culinary instructors from Tilden Career Community High School enjoy the benefit

Cooking contest Judge Chef Mary McMahon makes notes about the delicious student creations

Student chefs from Tilden Career Community High School present their healthy meal and desserts

HSC Board Member Joe Zanoni and his partner, Albert Prieto, with Rachel Rosenberg of Safer Pest Control Project and a Cooking up Change guest

Stuart Brodsky of OWP/P Chicago with a Cooking up Change guest

Guests from Cooking up Change sponsor BP America

Healthy Cooking Contest Judge Julius Russell reviews the judging criteria

HSC Board Members John Prizant and Sally Cummins

Cooking up Change Co-Chair Phil Mott of Kendall College makes notes during judging of the culinary competition

Host Committee Member Monique Demery and friends

Host Committee Member Robin Lavin (right) with her husband Jack and Cooking up Change guests

Culinary Competition Student Judge Sharee Hasaan enjoys the benefit

Cooking up Change Co-Chair Melissa Graham with her husband Michael

Marc Arakelian of Perspectives Charter School with a Cooking up Change guest

Gina Asoudegan of Presenting Sponsor Applegate Farms with Cooking up Change guests

Culinary Competition Student Judges Justin Frazier and Derrick Rhodes prepare to sample contest entries

Culinary Competition Judge Carmen Cenko enjoys the benefit