First prize winner is 19 year-old Vaughn Stafford Gray, a first year student of the University of the West Indies, where he is pursuing studies towards a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in English Literature.

This former Campion College deputy head boy majored in Biology, Physics and English Literature in high school and is in love with foreign languages. He is fluent in French, and speaks what he describes as functional Spanish and Japanese.

He is also a leading member of the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC), the recipient of a certificate of merit for outstanding oratory from the Optimist Club, and a former representative of the Caribbean District of the Interact Club (the youth arm of Rotary International).

Vaughn’s real passion, however, is cooking. His foray in the kitchen began at the age of four when his mother taught him to make pancakes.

He now concentrates more on gourmet cuisine as well as ethnic dishes. This young man says he finds cooking relaxing and challenging and that he likes experimenting and creating new recipes.

On completion of his studies at UWI, Vaughn plans to do a degree course in Restaurant Management, Pastry Making and Catering at The French Culinary Institute or the New York Restaurant School.

Vaughn likes to use Grace products, which he says are of a consistently high quality. He is also no stranger to the Grace Group as he has worked during the summer with George and Branday Ltd. In addition, he was the second place winner in a drink competition, which was co-sponsored by Grace, Kennedy and the Gleaner’s Youth Link a few summers ago.

Vaughn is the only child for his parents, school principal Cylda Gray and printery manager Carol Gray.