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Student Spotlight: Olivia Cooks Up a Final Five Appearance in the K12 National Cook-Off 

Stories & Spotlights
Student Spotlight: Olivia Cooks Up a Final Five Appearance in the K12 National Cook-Off

On June 5, 2026, five K12 students met in Arlington, Virginia, to compete in the K12 National Cook-Off Finals. One was Indiana Digital Learning School’s (INDLS) very own Olivia! A rising sophomore, Olivia entered the National Cook-Off because she has always had a love for cooking and wanted to challenge herself by trying to cook a new cuisine: Asian. 

“I do have some experience with cooking Asian food, but I wanted to try a couple new things like homemade plum sauce,” she said. “I wanted to cook something that would showcase my frying skills and my cutting skills.” 

Olivia’s Round 1 submission of beef and pork wontons, chicken low mein, and plum sauce earned her a spot as a Top Five Finalist. Watch her video submission. 

What is the K12 National Cook-Off? 

As a national network of digital public schools, K12 creates enrichment programs to encourage students to show off their talent and creativity. These programs allow students to connect with professional judges and have a chance to win exciting prizes. 

For the K12 National Cook-Off, budding chefs in grades 6–12 at K12-powered schools were invited to enter for a shot at becoming one of five finalists who would advance to an exciting in-person showdown – complete with a $1,000 grand prize! 

Round One: Students created an original dish that had to include: 

  • A protein 
  • Something naturally red 
  • Something creamy 
  • A round-shaped ingredient 
  • A spice or herb that is not salt or pepper 

Judging: A panel of judges selected the finalists, evaluating each entry based on: 

  • How appealing and polished the final creation looked. 
  • How well the entry met the guidelines. 
  • The originality and inventive use of ingredients. 

Round Two: The five finalists (plus one chaperone each) received a paid trip to compete at the live K12 National Cook-Off at the Kitchen of Purpose in Arlington, Virginia. There, they created a new dish with a different set of judging criteria. On July 1, 2026, tune in to watch Round Two’s mini cooking episodes and participate in the public voting period from July 6–17. 

New Adventures 

Olivia and her mom often cook together for their big family and venture to Asian markets to find new ingredients they’ve never heard of before. They traveled to Arlington together for the competition. 

“We haven’t gotten to travel much. INDLS has opened a lot of doors for me and given me the opportunity to see more, like the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington,” said Olivia. “Without K12 and the Cook-Off, this wouldn’t have been our summer; we wouldn’t be traveling like this.” 

As a digital school, INDLS’s flexibility allows students like Olivia to pursue their passions while still having the full public school experience. To Olivia, helpful teachers and plenty of classmates contribute to her education. She even met her best friend through INDLS. 

Olivia is in INDLS’s medical program, but she’s “always had a thing for cooking.” She said, “I would love to own a food truck or open my own restaurant one day.” 

No matter where your career takes you, Olivia, INDLS will be cheering you on! 

Check back here on July 1 to watch Round Two’s mini cooking episodes and prepare to cast your votes! 

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