HFCC Students Win Awards at Plymouth Ice Festival

Three Henry Ford Community College students were winners in the 2009 Plymouth Ice Festival’s College Individual Competition. The festival, which is the largest and oldest ice sculpting show in North America, was held from Friday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 25.

HFCC student Harry Werwinski of Dearborn won the bronze award in the College Individual Competition with his giraffe ice sculpture. Taylor resident Robert Wiley Jr. took fifth place for his carving of a dragon and Marcus Richardson of Romulus came in ninth place with his Bugs Bunny ice sculpture. The HFCC students, who are all members of the HFCC Ice Carving Club, competed against 20 ice carvers in the individual competition.

'I am very proud of the students’ accomplishments,' says Chef Richard Teeple, HFCC Hospitality instructor and Ice Carving Club faculty advisor. 'The Plymouth Ice Festival is a great way for students to display their creative sides and learn from each other.'

The HFCC Ice Carving Club teaches students the art of ice carving with hands-on experience. Students in the club have the ability to showcase their work at various community events that promote ice carving. Each year, the club comes together to sculpt pieces for the Plymouth Ice Festival.

'There are many skills students learn from the Ice Carving Club,' notes Teeple. 'Students are learning a specialized skill that could support them, team work and group dynamics, how to run a business, attention to detail, working with customers and dealing with weather elements as well as the ice itself.'

For more information about the HFCC Ice Carving Club, please contact Teeple at (313) 845-6391. For more information on HFCC, visit www.hfcc.edu.

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