VERNON, Conn. – When you choose to be a high school teacher, it goes without saying that you’ll have to have a flare for fun. One Rockville educator definitely has found that sweet spot, but she has also made strong advances in showing her students and fellow staff that giving back is the biggest victory.
 
“I wanted to host a community event that was fun, trendy and charitable,” said Lori Gilmore, family and consumer science teacher at Rockville High School. “When students and staff plan, practice and compete together, they’re not only having an amazing experience and making great memories, but are also learning skills that go far beyond the classroom.”
 
In 2012, Gilmore had the idea to fashion a competition after the Food Network’s series Cupcake Wars, pairing a staff member with a culinary student to compete for trophies, prizes and bragging rights. With some fine-tuning and a few years of experience, the Rockville High Cupcake Extravaganza has become a well-anticipated tradition.
 
This event has evolved into a mission of creating the perfect cupcake. Together, teams participate in rounds of baking, frosting and decorating their cupcakes through eliminations until the final pairs are chosen to face-off in the Cupcake Extravaganza event.
 
“Everyone is duking it out to make it to the fifth annual ‘Cupcake Extravaganza’ which will take place on April 28,” said Gilmore. “Students are not only working with teachers, but also paraprofessionals, social workers, the school resource officer and the school principal!” All of the cupcakes are made from scratch. This includes the fillings and embellishments as well as the cakes and frostings. 
 
“This event has become a hit here among students, staff, families and members of the community,” said Gilmore, sharing that last year more than 1500 cupcakes were presented and several thousand dollars were raised for local community organizations. Because of last year’s successful event, this year event planners are anticipating a need for even more cupcakes. “We have highly qualified judges the night of the event and the winners are chosen based on taste, creativity and presentation.”
 
“We’ve decided to donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to help veterans and those living with multiple sclerosis because these are causes that touch many of our students and staff,” said Gilmore. 
 
A fellow Rockville High staff member who has volunteered to help out with Cupcake Wars since its inception was touched to learn of the decision to include the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, as one of the beneficiaries this year.
 
“I’ve been involved with the cupcakes wars because it is fun, it is exciting for our students and staff, the cupcakes are amazing and they are doing this for charity,” said Lois Gottlieb, whose daughter, Jennifer Ganley, is living with MS. “I was moved to learn that the National MS Society would be a beneficiary for a second year. I am sure my colleagues who have a similar connection felt the same way.”
 
More than 6,500 Connecticut residents have self-identified with the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, as living with MS, a potentially debilitating disease. The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure. Symptoms can include numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness, loss of mobility and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.
 
In round one, 17 teams will make cupcakes to compliment the theme, “A Salute to Veterans.”  Five of this year’s contestants are veterans.  Seven teams will advance to round two and the final winners will be announced at the Cupcake Extravaganza.
 
The Cupcake Extravaganza will be held Thursday, April 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Auditorium Lobby at Rockville High School, located at 70 Loveland Hill Rd in Vernon. Tickets to the event are $10 each, which provides each person or family a container that they can fill with four cupcakes of their choosing to take home.  This year, there will be approximately 40 different cupcake flavors, many of which are centered on the theme of ice cream flavors. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.
 
“Lori is so passionate about what she does and makes certain that her students know that this is about more than making cupcakes, it is about making a difference,” commented Gottlieb. “I love this event, the people who work on it and the charities that will benefit from it. For me this fundraising event is a win, win!”
 
For more information on Rockville High School’s Cupcake Extravaganza, contact Lori Gilmore at lori.gilmore@vernonct.org or 860.944.2820. For more information on the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, or for ways to organize your own event, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.