Wake Tech culinary student JoAnn Rey will travel to Erfurt, Germany next week to help represent the U.S. in an international culinary competition featuring more than 1,500 chefs representing more than 45 countries. The Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA) International Culinary Art Competition, known as the “Culinary Olympics,” takes place October 5-10. Rey, a resident of Garner, is one of four apprentices chosen to work alongside American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) National Team USA, the United States’ official representative at worldwide culinary competitions. She earned the honor after being selected by ACF President, Michael Ty, to work with Team USA at the ACF convention in July.

The international competition began in 1896 and is considered the most elite competitive event in the industry. It takes place every four years and showcases the talents of chefs from around the world, who compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in multiple categories.

Rey has received numerous awards, scholarships, and recommendation letters since enrolling at Wake Tech in 2009. In 2011, she was selected as one of four culinary students from Wake Tech to travel to France on an 18-day culinary exchange trip to study French cuisine at a culinary school and learn the ropes in French restaurants. She currently maintains a 4.0 GPA and will graduate next May with associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts. The public can follow Rey’s Culinary Olympics experience on Twitter at @joannrey64.

About Wake Technical Community College:

Wake Technical Community College serves more than 66,000 students annually with five campuses, two training centers, multiple community sites, and a comprehensive array of online learning options. Wake Tech is fully accredited and offers more than 180 associate’s degrees, diplomas, and certificates that prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment. Wake Tech also offers non-credit continuing education programs: customized workforce training, small business support, public safety officer training, basic skills courses such as English as a Second Language and high school equivalency preparation, and other courses for personal enrichment. For more information, visit www.waketech.edu, www.twitter.com/waketechcc, and www.facebook.com/waketechcc.