ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Two teams of incarcerated individuals at Belmont County Correctional Institute faced off Thursday at the In2Work 2025 Aramark Culinary Excellence cooking competition at the facility.

The two teams tasked with creating a pumpkin themed meal are all involved in the In2Work culinary program inside of the facility.

Team Newlen created a turkey pot pie, oven fried broccoli, sweet potato casserole, and an iced pumpkin cookie bar. Team Kuebler created pumpkin chili mac, braised cabbage and apples, maple cinnamon carrots and a marbled pumpkin cake with citrus glaze.

The two meals were judged by Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections contract monitor Vivian Hawkins, deputy administrator Kerri Ryan, In2Work director Nicole McVaugh, Belmont County Correctional Institute Officer Sylvia Rideout, and Captain Brian Ring.

After much deliberation, the judges awarded Team Newlen the title of best meal.

Belmont County Correctional Institute Warden Shelbie Smith believes that the 12-to-18-week program that Aramark provides for the incarcerated individuals is important because it provides them an opportunity to receive a certificate in culinary arts. She added that the program also helps the individuals get a job in food service when they are done serving their time.

Smith said the program plays a key role in the individuals’ rehabilitation and helping them ensure that they won’t reoffend once they re-enter society.

McVaugh added that the program provides vocational training to the men and women who are incarcerated in Ohio.

“They go through a rigorous application process and then through the class they become ServSafe certified,” McVaugh said. “The people who competed today are our students and they competed as a team, really just showing teamwork.”

She said the competition showcases the culinary skills that the individuals have honed throughout the program.

“We teach a phased approach to learning. We teach phase one, which is kitchen basics and the graduate to phase two, which is food service management,” McVaugh said. “Phase three is the certification phase … the ServSafe certificate. Each of our students will have the opportunity to earn the ServSafe manager certificate from the National Restaurant Association.”

A success story from the program is Antwaun Chandler. Chandler spent 23 years in prison after being charged one count of murder with a firearm specification when he was only 17.

During those 23 years Chandler decided to make a positive change in his life.

He gained parole on Sept. 2, 2024.

“My story consists of an individual who came inside of here and took advantage of the opportunities,” he said.

Chandler ended up receiving two associate degrees from St. Clair Community College in correctional rehabilitation and a degree in community and social service.

“I took advantage of the opportunities, going to college, going through the In2Work program, and being a peer recovery supporter. I took those skills out there in society, and I’m out there applying them in my life right now,” he said.

Chandler then praised the In2Work program saying that it is allowing the incarcerated individuals something positive for themselves.

“That’s where it starts by giving people opportunities. And when you give people opportunities who are less fortunate,they are individuals that that’s going to take advantage of it for the right reasons,” he said.

“That starts here, by doing the hard work and becoming a better individual at the end of the day.”