Cupcakes: Displayed are a few of the creative — and undoubtedly delicious — cupcakes entered into the contest.

Winners: WVU’s people’s choice winners hold their prizes. From left, dental students Ross Sholota, Chelse Ward and Krystin Bourdua. Amy Trn (not pictured) also was part of the winning team.

Interview: Kerri Thomas, president of the WVU Dental School Class of 2017, talks with a local reporter about helping people in the community through fundraisers such as Cupcake Wars.

Morgantown, West Virginia — Calling it “Cupcake Wars,” students at West Virginia University School of Dentistry hosted their first cupcake-baking contest July 12 to raise money for the local community.

Kerri Thomas, president of the WVU Dental School Class of 2017, created the event as a way for students to give back to the community in times of need, such as illness, natural disasters and fire.

“Cupcake wars was a fun and creative way to get students involved in something fun during the summer session and get our class to come together and help for a great cause,” said Ms. Thomas.

Ms. Thomas recently started the nonprofit organization “Hands for a Cause” to support fundraisers for the community.

The cupcake contest started as a Health Sciences Center event that expanded to include any WVU student. Thirteen teams participated, made up of students from the dental school, as well as from business, economics, engineering and other schools.

The registration fee was $10 for each team of bakers.

Five judges from local bakeries rated the entries on taste, creativity and presentation. The organizers awarded prizes for first, second and third place, along with a prize for people’s choice. First prize went to Kristen Engasser for tiramisu cupcakes.

Organizers invited the public to the event, which was held in a parking lot near the dental school’s Suncrest Towne Centre clinic in Morgantown. Students sold tickets for cupcakes ($1 each), other refreshments, face painting and games. They also sold raffle tickets. In all, more than $700 was raised for charity.

“We’re definitely going to make this an annual event,” Ms. Thomas said. “Bigger and better.”