SWC News Center

A Sundae Story

By Stephanie Kingston - August 6, 2026

A little creativity, a lot of heart and a sweet connection helped Southwestern College Culinary Arts Professor, Chef Kris Saradpon, take the top prize at the 2026 Sammy’s Messy Sundae Challenge.

The annual competition, hosted by Sammy’s Restaurant & Bar at Seven Mile Casino,  pairs local media outlets with South County nonprofits. Teams compete to create the most creative sundae, with the winning nonprofit receiving a $2,500 donation.

Representing the Southwestern College Foundation, Chef Kris created the B+ Sundae, a decadent combination of coffee ice cream, brownies, tiramisu-inspired mascarpone, bananas, chocolate, caramel and cherries.

But the sundae’s inspiration goes far beyond dessert.

Chef Kris’s oldest daughter, Kamila, was born with beta thalassemia major, a rare blood disorder that requires her to receive blood transfusions every two weeks. Those transfusions are possible because of people who choose to donate blood, often without ever knowing whose life they are helping.

That generosity inspired Chef Kris to connect the sundae to another kind of giving: scholarships.

Through the Southwestern College Foundation, donors help students overcome financial barriers and pursue an education that may otherwise be out of reach. For Chef Kris, both blood donations and scholarships share the same powerful message: one act of generosity can change a life.

The B+ Sundae will have a chance to make its own mark. It is expected to join Sammy's menu for a limited time beginning in September.

For Chef Kris, the winning dessert is more than a sweet treat. It is a tribute to generosity, family and the people who give others the opportunity to thrive.