Students slice a mountain of spinach for the shrimp cocktails they are preparing for the Governor's Ball and Reception.

Students thinly slice a mountain of spinach julienne style for shrimp cocktails. The students are preparing 7,500 hors d'oeuvres for the Governor's Ball and Reception in Olympia.

Student Savannah Niles, center, prepares cheese sauce in the kitchen at the Clark County Skills Center.

Students, from left, Kelsey Roldness, Arirat Chantana, Sarai Najera and Jessica Dallum, slice spinach for hors d'oeuvres students are making and serving at the Governor's Ball and Reception in Olympia.

Chef R. Andrew McColley instructs students about the task of preparing 7,500 Washington-inspired hors d'oeuvres. About 30 students and McColley will deliver the food via school bus to Olympia on Wednesday. There they will plate the food and serve it at the Governor's Ball and Reception.

Students from left, Laurel Glass and Janelle Lefor assemble wild boar salad in a savory tart shell while Jenelle Gold and Gerald Morales assemble other hors d' oeuvres for the Governor's Ball and Reception.

Culinary Arts Chef Instructor R. Andrew McColley from the Clark County Skills Center oversees the busy kitchen where students prepare 7,500 hors d'oeuvres for the Governor's Ball and Reception. McColley was one of the first graduates from the Skills Center's culinary arts program. After a successful career of owning and running a restaurant, he returned to the school's kitchen where he started his career.

A student pipes apple cream cheese into vanilla cones. Each will be topped with a hazelnut candy and an apple slice. The students are preparing 7,500 hors d'oeuvres for the Governor's Ball and Reception. The recipes feature foods grown in Washington, including apples, wild mushrooms, cranberries and raspberries.

How long does it take to julienne-slice a mountain of spinach? Culinary arts students at the Clark County Skills Center prepared 7,500 hors d'oeuvres for the Jan. 16 Governor's Ball and Reception.

A colorful bevy of broccoli awaits culinary arts students preparing 7,500 hors d'oeuvres for the Governor's Ball and Reception.

Students, from left, Jenelle Gold, Janelle Lefor and Gerald Morales prepare hors d'oeuvres featuring Washington ingredients for the Governor's Ball and Reception in Olympia.

Students use a pastry bag to pipe apple cream cheese into vanilla cones for the Governor's Ball and Reception. Each cone will be topped with a hazelnut candy and an apple slice.

A selection of Washington-inspired hors d'oeuvres prepared by students at the Clark County Skills Center will be served at the Governor's Ball and Reception in Olympia on Wednesday.

Student Savannah Niles, 18, prepares cheese sauce in the Clark County Skills Center kitchen.