Each October, as the leaves turn colors and the air turns to a crisp, the Pacer staff prepares for the Annual Staff Chili Contest on grade prep day for the first quarter.
One of their favorite ways to prepare is by trash talking as each year, the math department takes the trophy. Once again, the math department has shown that they have the right angle for making chili.
“There’s a category for the spiciest, the most unique, and the best overall,” said history teacher Ryan Inahara.
Inahara explained that the teachers taste test all the chilis with testing chips. Then, they fill out their ballots to vote.
Best overall winners receive a trophy, while the spiciest and most unique each receive a certificate. Newspaper adviser Erin Schloetter won for most unique chili, and English teacher Joe Schloetter won for spiciest chili.
The math department has won best overall 13 times since 2002 when the chili contest began. How do they do it year after year? The secret ingredient to their success is connected to retired math teachers.
“Sharon Finley and Derek Abbott are former members of the LHS math department,” said math teacher Carrie Chase. “Both of them are from South Texas, so they knew how to make chili and taught us, too.”
The recipes that the math teachers use are those that have been passed down for over 20 years now. They are tried and true recipes that year after year prove to be the best in the game.
The math department won the annual chili cookoff, held during Quarter 1 grade prep day. Posing with the trophy are Carrie Chase, Eli McElroy, Katie Hart, Casey Finfrock, Teresa Lehto, Drew Larson.