The smell of sizzling burgers filled the halls of Sylvan Hills High School as students went head-to-head in this year’s “Burger Wars” competition—a hands-on cooking challenge that brought energy, excitement, and serious flavor to the school’s culinary classroom.
Burger Wars isn’t just about cooking the best burger. It’s about learning, teamwork, and showcasing creativity under pressure. Organized by Ms. Cummings, this was the first year Sylvan Hills hosted the event under her guidance, though she says the competition has been a tradition in other schools for years.
“It’s a chance for students to compete with each other. It brings people from the community into the school,” Ms. Cummings explained. “It’s networking, it’s learning about the chemistry of foods—how one spice can completely change the flavor. It’s all about getting kids engaged and excited.”
The competition began with students choosing their teams. After a semifinal round within each class, a selected judge chose the top burger from each group. Those finalists then moved on to the main event: the final cook-off, where three outside judges were brought in to crown the ultimate Burger Wars champion.
Judging was no easy task. Ms. Cummings created a detailed scoring sheet that covered every aspect of the burger. “We talked about the patty—how it was flavored and cooked, the presentation, the appearance, the toppings, the bun, balance, taste, and creativity. All those were categories we used,” she said. “Next year, we’re even planning to bake our buns.”
In the end, the team of Colton Griffith, Daelyn Downs, and Brady Cagle came out on top, impressing the judges with their standout burger. Their win was the result of careful planning, great teamwork, and a unique flavor combination that stood out in a strong field of competitors.
Beyond the competition, the event was a way for students to gain real-world culinary experience and feel ownership over their work. They had to think critically about flavor combinations, timing, presentation, and teamwork—all skills that matter both inside and outside the kitchen.
“This event got them excited,” said Ms. Cummings. “They weren’t just doing an assignment—they were competing, creating, and having fun with it. That’s what makes learning stick.”
With students fired up and already talking about next year’s event, it’s safe to say Burger Wars has become a hit. And with plans to raise the bar even higher, the next round might be even tastier.
