Game on: Operation Gingerbread

Published Dec. 27, 2013
By 1st Lt. Stacy Glaus
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Competition was tight as nearly 50 Airmen packed into the Cyber Café Dec. 18 for the first-ever gingerbread house building competition.

The event, sponsored by the chapel, allowed teams of four to show off their creative gingerbread house building talents with the winning team receiving a $50 Exchange gift card.

"This is really just an opportunity for networking and teamwork," said Airman 1st Class Andrea Camas, Peterson Dorm Counsel president and dental lab technician at the 21st Dental Squadron. "It's a great opportunity to get to know who else is out there at our base."

The contest was part of the weekly Hump Day Hangout at the Cyber Café, where the chapel sponsors free food, coffee and tea for all patrons.

"Ever since we started H2 (Hump Day Hangout), you see people really get out of their shell," said Camas. "It's just a good place for people to come and hang out."

But the gingerbread house building competition was more than just a regular H2 night; this competition was serious business.

Each team was given 45 minutes to construct their house using only the materials provided. Teams were also given one mystery ingredient, such as shaved coconut or pretzels, which needed to be incorporated into the build.

Teams worked expeditiously, but in the end, only one team could walk away with the grand prize.

The judges, including Brig. Gen. Roger Teague, Air Force Space Command Strategic Plans, Programs, and Analyses director, and his wife Kim; Col. John Shaw, 21st Space Wing commander; Chief Master Sgt. Rich Redman, 21st SW command chief; and Master Sgt. Joseph Beymer, 21st Comptroller Squadron first sergeant, were given the difficult task of selecting a winner.

Team number one, representing the 21st Communications Squadron and comprised of Senior Airmen Matthew Reynolds and Wayne Harding, and Airmen 1st Class Brett Wells and Maricel DaCosta, took away the top spot. Each member received a $50 gift card.

All participants received free pizza, sodas and holiday stockings stuffed with treats just for stopping by.

But the event was more than just the $50 gift cards or the free pizza; it was about coming together as a team and building morale.

"Airmen are facing a lot of stuff right now," said Chaplain (Maj.) Daniel Forman, 21st SW chaplain. "Our young Airmen go to work, deploy, and then are told about force management initiatives. We really just need them to know that we care from the top down right now."

"My daddy used to say, 'You can tell people that you care but they won't know until you show them,'" he added. "That's the goal of this event."

All Airmen can visit the Cyber Café for free coffee, games and wi-fi. The café is open every Wednesday and Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday 1-9 p.m. For more information about the café, contact the 21st SW chapel at 556-4442.

Gingerbread competition