She's been baking most of her life and now all her time in the kitchen could bring her some international acclaim and celebrity. Kaylee Salter, a Grade 12 student at Memorial Composite High School, has entered the America's Greatest Baker Challenge and is currently sitting at 3rd in her group, hoping to secure a spot in the top 15 this week.
"I never would have expected so many people to have been behind me through this competition and pushing me forward. My foods teacher has promoted me to our high school, and across Canada. My classmates are excited that I have made it through the first round," Salter said. "Not only has my school been supportive, but my family as well. My mom has been extremely supportive and has helped a lot with the social media publications and reminders and that has brought in a lot of votes and support. I am extremely grateful for my family, teachers, classmates, and their connections."
Salter is a Foods 30 student at MCHS and has entered this competition in the hopes she will be named America's Greatest Baker, which comes with a $10,000 prize and the winner will be featured in Bake from Scratch magazine.
"I am both proud and excited to see Kaylee Salter push her baking skills to even greater heights as she prepares in hopes to get through the voting levels and into America's Greatest Baker competition," explained Wendy Payne Stecyk, Foods teacher at MCHS. "She is a humble, kind student who needs the support of Canadians to make it. Kaylee would be an excellent competitor on the show and she needs your daily votes."
Payne Stecyk said the foods classes, other students, parents and teachers are all voting daily for Salter and she hopes more people vote for her to get on the show.
The competition is presented by Buddy Valastro, known as the TV personality "Cake Boss" and is a well-known pastry chef who crafts incredible cakes. Competitors who make it into the finals will get their chance to meet Valastro and gain access to an exclusive workshop and Q&A with the Cake Boss.
"Making it through the first round made me optimistic about winning," Salter said. "Every round won is a step closer to the $10,000 that could potentially open more opportunities for my future in baking!"
Salter, who has been making custom cakes for around four years, plans to pay for her tuition in the Baking and Pastry Arts Program at NAIT next fall.
The young baker was named fourth in her group in the first round of voting and is now trying to advance to the Top 15, which is dependent on votes.
You can vote for Salter for free daily at https://greatestbaker.com/2023/kaylee-salter or you can donate and make multiple votes on the same day. Voting for the Top 15 wraps up on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
