CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival draws crowd

Event kicks off 2016 Food Truck Frolic and Family Movie Night series

Published: 05/31/2016

Friends and neighbors visited the St. Charles Community College campus throughout the day on May 21 for the first-ever CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival.

CHOMP kicked off the 2016 series of Food Truck Frolic and Family Movie Nights and raised to date nearly $80,000. Proceeds from CHOMP and future Food Truck Frolic events will benefit both the SCC Foundation, supporting much-needed scholarships as well as academic and program enhancements for the college, and the Cottleville-Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce.

“We are thrilled to be teaming up with the Cottleville-Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce this summer to offer this series of events that provide a lot of fun for our community, and also raise funds for a great cause,” said Betsy Schneider, director of development at SCC.

Attendees were able to visit with vendors at the first-ever CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival on May 21.

CHOMP attendees were able to select from nearly 50 food trucks, enjoy music from five bands, and visit with vendors. A variety of kids’ activities in the Mercy Kids Kidz Zone were available, including inflatables, mascots, princesses, superheroes, ambulances, police cars, free bike helmets, coloring, crafts, face painting and more. The family movie, “Minions” was shown at 9 p.m. on the lawn by the Technology Building.

Dr. Zhivegas performed live on the main stage, preceded by the SCC Jazz Big Band, Deja Edwards, Zero Friction and Matt Wynn.

Dr. Zhivegas entertains the crowd during the first-ever CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival at St. Charles Community College on May 21.

In the food competition, event-goers voted for the People’s Choice award, which went to St. Louisiana Q. Judges also picked a “CHOMP Champ” in three categories. Lilly’s Cantina was the CHOMP Champ for best side dish; Sarah’s Cake Stop was the CHOMP Champ for best dessert; and Thai Jasmine was the CHOMP Champ for best main dish.

Food competition judges were Don Kalicak, Mercy vice president for regional development; Eric Henderson, UPS Central Plains District Area HR manager; Tom Wootten, State Farm in Cottleville; Scott Lewis, St. Charles County sheriff; Bob Ronkoski, SCC chief of police; and Kasey McKee, SCC vice president for college advancement and planning, as well as Dan Portman and Michael Murphy, Waddell & Reed.

Partygoers enjoyed food, drinks and music at St. Charles Community College’s first-ever CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival on May 21.

The remaining Food Truck Frolic and Family Movie Night events will be held Fridays, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23.

Leading the events is a volunteer planning committee chaired by Kalicak. Board members from both the SCC Foundation and the CWS Chamber are teaming to help with the events.

Premier sponsors included Mercy and State Farm (Lew Fruend, Hank Wiese & Tom Wootten). Foodie Sponsors included SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles & SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake St. Louis, Krey Distributing and Waddell & Reed. Community Sponsors included Acropolis Investment Management, Ameren Missouri, Bauer Orthodontics, Cintas, Commerce Bank, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, First Community Credit Union, Floyd Glass & Window, Great Southern Bank, Lutheran Senior Services, NHC – National Healthcare Corporation, Renewal by Andersen, UMB, UPS and Vantage Credit Union.

For information or to learn more about the SCC Foundation’s impact on students, contact Schneider at 636-922-8473 or bschneider@stchas.edu. For information about upcoming Food Truck Frolic events, visit foodtruckfrolic.com or contact Wendy Berry, CWS Chamber executive director at wendy@cwschamber.com or Peggy Schnardthorst, SCC development and foundation relations manager, at 636-922-8278 or pschnardthorst@stchas.edu.

The Cottleville-Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce is a small but powerful business organization in St. Charles County, open to all businesses, including those outside of the immediate area that see a benefit in networking, being active in the community and supporting each other in a way that helps each of us to grow our business and develop professionally.

The St. Charles Community College Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, enhances learning environments for thousands of students each year through scholarship awards, academic and program enhancements as well as community outreach. For more information on the SCC Foundation and its vision to transform lives and strengthen communities, visit www.stchas.edu/foundation.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit stchas.edu.

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