Twelve teams competed in the annual Gingerbread House Building Competition on December 16. The junior team of Hannah Curry, Sammie Magargee, Natalie Marbury, Maeve Winter, Olivia Markopoulos, and friends placed first and received a plate of cookies. Several teams tied for second and third place.

Caitlin Dutta, a key player on the Ginga Ninja team, which tied for 2nd said, “The Gingerbread Competition was a great expression of holiday spirit and a great culinary experience for Western Albemarle Students.”

The Ginga Ninja team returned this year after a rough debut in the competition last year, most likely placing last. Another member of the team, Annie Lorenzoni said of this year’s competition, “I was in the process of building my Ginger Bread House with my friends when I looked to my left and saw a bunch of amateurs piling.. I don’t even know how to describe what they were doing… piling everything into one pile of candy trash. And then I realized that’s how foolish my team looked last year. That’s the thing about Gingerbread House Making, there’s always room for improvement!”

The Gingerbread Competition allows for students to work together with their friends for the common goal of creating a masterpiece. Many students participate year after year, in hopes of perfecting their design and winning the first place title.

William Halliday, a member of one of the teams that tied for 3rd said, “Our design was kind of spontaneous but it really got me in the holiday spirit.”

Whether students planned their design weeks in advance or threw it together the day of, the Gingerbread House Competition was a huge success and a fun way for students to get ready for the holiday season.