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West Shore School News is presented by West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Educational Service District Career & Technical Education students Nora McTiernan and Ben Eilers recently earned first place in a state culinary arts competition.
Last week, the duo competed in the 2025 Michigan Hospitality Foundation ProStart Invitational held at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek where they won the top ranking in the management category.
McTiernan is a senior at Mason County Central High School and Eilers is a senior at Manistee High School. They attend the afternoon session of the CTE culinary arts program held on the campus of West Shore Community College.
McTiernan is in her second year in the program and this was her second time in the competition. Last year she competed in the cake decorating category.
“The management category was very in depth and a considerable challenge,” McTiernan said. “It involved creating a business and marketing plan, along with presenting marketing materials. We started working on this in November.”
The two agreed they made a great team based on their skill sets. McTiernan had the past experience of competing and Eilers had presentation experience.
Both would like to pursue careers in the food industry, but in different paths.
McTiernan plans to attend Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in the fall and wants to become a nutritionalist. Eilers plans to attend Northern Michigan College in Traverse City where he will enroll in the culinary arts program. He said he is interested in a career on cruise ships.
“It’s a great accomplishment to have students from our program win a first place award,” said Jamie Bandstra, principal/director of CTE. “Our students competed against students from large school districts and programs. We are very proud of Nora and Ben along with all the students who competed.”
McTiernan and Eilers will continue to the national competition.
A team from West Shore ESD also placed fifth in the tabletop design competition.
CTE is funded through a millage paid by the taxpayers of Mason, Lake, and Oceana counties and is open to high school juniors and seniors in the school districts within the WSESD. Students from Manistee County attend through tuition.
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