by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Kaitlyn Reichel of Sartell, the little “chef” who recently caused a stir in the Uncle Ben’s Rice Beginners’ Contest, is now in the top 25, and her fans can keep voting for her online through Nov. 30.
If she makes the top five, she and the other four grand-prize winners will receive a $30,000 makeover for their school cafeterias and each will receive $15,000 to do with as they wish.
The Sartell Newsleader published a story about Kaitlyn and the Uncle Ben’s contest in its Oct. 30 edition.
Votes the contestants receive online from fans will account for 24 percent of their total scores. Other factors include choice of ingredients, how they accomplished their cooking skills on the videos they submitted, and more.
For her winning video spot, Kaitlyn made a patch of stuffed poblano peppers, with her mother present while her father did the videotaping. Her entry was one of hundreds submitted from all over the United States.
Kaitlyn and her family were notified by a phone call Nov. 10 that she had been named to the top 25. Two other children in Minnesota – a boy in Winona and a girl in Blaine – are also among the finalists. The rest are from many other states.
After Kaitlyn – speechless – heard the good news, she couldn’t wait to tell the principal at her school, Pine Meadow Elementary. When Principal Sara Nelson heard the news, she was thrilled and congratulated Kaitlyn, adding that if she wins the big prize, the cafeteria staff would have to start thinking about what kind of upgrade would be needed.
It’s now up to people far and wide to help out. They can vote, up to one time a day, for Kaitlyn’s video of her making stuffed poblano peppers. To vote, go to www.unclebens.com/ben’s-beginners, then find Kaitlyn Reichel’s video and cast a vote. The deadline for voting is Nov. 30. The five grand-prize winners will be announced in December.
“Everybody is so excited,” said Cindy Reichel, Kaitlyn’s mother. “The best thing is Kaitlyn totally understands if she doesn’t win the grand prize, she had fun trying.”
Kaitlyn Reichel of Sartell, shown here in Uncle Ben’s chef items she won, has been named as one of the 25 top contenders in the Uncle Ben’s Rice Beginners’ Contest. Her fans will have until Nov. 30 to cast votes for her to become one of the five top winners. If she wins, she will receive $30,000 for a makeover at the Pine Meadow Elementary School and $15,000 for herself.
