Sweet skills on display at MATC's Parade of Gingerbread Houses

Milwaukee Area Technical students are showing off their impressive skills with a Parade of Gingerbread Houses at the Milwaukee Public Market. The intricate cookie houses, which are up for a public and professional vote, are designed by MATC students in the Baking and Pastry Arts associate degree program. "I was shocked at the detail," said Randy Heite, who noticed the houses on a Friday visit to the Public Market. "I mean, I bake myself, and I'm thinking that is an incredible amount of work."The 10 gingerbread houses are located on the second level of the Milwaukee Public Market. Visitors can take a peek at all of the homes, vote on their favorite, and even make bids to take one home. Proceeds from each house will be used to offer scholarships to students in baking programs through the MATC Foundation Inc."The silent auction that people can partake in all goes to our foundation, and that helps the baking and pastry students, as well as culinary," said Keosha Nelson, Educational Assistant for MATC's Baking and Pastry Department.First, second, and third-place awards will be given to students from judges with the Wisconsin Baking Association. A People’s Choice Award is also up for grabs, which is decided by the public votes. "The Wisconsin Baking Association comes through, and they have a very strategic grading criteria," said Nelson. "So to see the students surpass that and really do a good job, and win those prizes, it's pretty awesome."The public can only vote and bid on houses until Dec. 8 when the market closes at 8 p.m. On Dec. 12, the winners will be crowned and announced online at matc.edu.