The team from the Athlone campus of TUS: Bronze Medal winner Lesslie Angeles Terrazas Miguel (second from left); her assistant on the day Oisin O’Flanagan, with John Killeen and Shane Sheedy, lecturers in Culinary Arts at TUSTUS student chef wins bronze medal at prestigious national cookery competitionAn Athlone-based student at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has secured overall bronze at one of Ireland’s most prestigious cooking competitions. Lesslie Angeles Terrazas Miguel, representing the Athlone campus of TUS, achieved the podium finish at the Knorr Professional Student Chef of the Year 2026. Organised by Unilever Food Solutions Ireland, the annual competition – held this year at the Moylish campus of TUS - celebrates excellence, creativity and innovation among Ireland’s emerging culinary talent. Originally from Bolivia and now living in Athlone, Lesslie brings a global perspective to her cooking, combining traditional Bolivian ingredients such as mote and aji panca with Irish produce including kale and carrot. John Killeen and Shane Sheedy, lecturers in Culinary Arts at TUS, prepared Lesslie and Oisin for the competition.

Source: Irish Independent March 16, 2026 11:56 UTC