A fifth-grade Cayce Elementary student is the winner of the 8th Annual Future Chef competition.

Alexandria Neal-Guetchkov was the top chef in a field of 16 finalists, all fourth- and fifth-graders representing the district’s elementary schools in the March 7 event.

Students prepared Mexican dishes, which were scored by a panel of three judges. Alexandria’s winning dish was grilled chicken with black bean salad and lime cream sauce.

In addition to Alexandria, other students and their schools were:

Cayce Elementary: Camilla Salas

Congaree Elementary: Sophia Barfield, Harrington Lowman

Riverbank Elementary: Larson Blackhurst, Savannah Boynton, Pachae Butler, Marydavis Hollman, Hope Martin, Andrew Roberts

Saluda River Academy for the Arts: Janiya Wiggins, Mason Williams

Springdale Elementary: James Baldwin, Allicen Caulder

Wood Elementary: Skylar Branham, Taylynn Stanfill, Daisha Ward, Alexis Wiggins

The cook-off was held in the commercial kitchen at the Lexington Two Innovation Center.