Luke Felkner, captain of the state-champion Oak Harbor High School Culinary Team, made a profitable visit to the Oak Harbor Rotary Club last week.

Rotary donated a check in the amount of $2,500 to help the team advance to national competition in Kansas, April 30 to May 2.

This is the fourth year Oak Harbor has sent a team to the National ProStart Competition.

Members of the top five teams at Nationals earn “full ride scholarships” at the Culinary Institute of America, in Napa Valley, Calif. The scholarships are valued at $30,000 each.

The Rotary check made a big dent in the travel expense fundraising, but more money is needed to send the team on its way. It will cost about $10,000, so the team will launch a series of fundraisers in the upcoming weeks.

The first fundraiser will be Sunday, April 11, at Frasers Gourmet Hideway, located at 1191 SE Dock St. in Oak Harbor. The culinary team will prepare their competition dish and the management team will serve. Owner Scott Fraser advises the OHHS team on its culinary creations.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 279-1231. The event will begin at 8:30 p.m.

Donations to the culinary program can also be made directly through the Oak Harbor Education Foundation in care of Jones Accounting Associates, located at 1199 SE Dock Street in Oak Harbor.

Principal Dwight Lundstrom introduced Felkner to the Rotary audience, lauding the senior and team captain for leading his team to its second consecutive state culinary title.

Besides earning culinary laurels, Felkner is also the starting quarterback for OHHS football team and was voted as the team’s 2009-10 Most Valuable Player for Offense.