Meet Maria Bonilla, teen chef extraordinaire, and the winner of The Art Institute of Washington’s Best Teen Chef Culinary Scholarship Competition March 17 in Arlingtona. An 18-year-old resident of Washington, and a senior at Cardozo Senior High School, Bonilla may really find that cooking comes naturally. “My dad is a cook,” she says, “and has 19 years of experience. ... I would watch him cooking at home for a party.” What better role model for a young girl who loves to bake, cooks at home herself and intends to become a professional?

As luck would have it, Bonilla picked up the competition application at an open house at the institute, entered the contest and ended up taking top honors. As Bonilla reports, her parents are very proud of her win, which qualifies her to compete for an Art Institute full–tuition scholarship for a two-year associate’s degree in the Culinary Arts program at the National Best Team Chef Competition held at The Art Institute of Dallas in early May. Regardless of the results, Bonilla’s sights are set on attending the local institute and majoring in the culinary arts.