Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop Rules!
Entry Period Begins: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 12:01 a.m.
Entry Period Ends: Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Finale: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Contest: Submit an original sweet or savory recipe via the Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop contest page at www.1077TheBronc.com/PopShop from Monday, October 20 to Sunday, November 16, 2025.
The contest is open to full or part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled during the 2025 Fall semester at Rider University. Please note: this year’s contest is both a sweet and savory contest.
Savory submissions can be an appetizer, breakfast, lunch, or dinner entrée, or any side dish. All sweet entries can be a cake, cupcake, or cheesecake; cookie, pie, cobbler or tart, donut, pudding, etc. All student recipes submitted must contain soda as one of the ingredients. Sodas must be a Coca-Cola approved product. Click here for a complete list of Coca-Cola branded products. Non-flavored water and alcohol are not permitted to be used in your recipe. Recipes will be judged on originality, creativity, taste, visual and crowd appeal; and if the recipe reflects the theme of this year’s contest successfully. Daly’s is a nut-free dining facility. Recipes may not include the following: peanuts and tree nuts.
All student recipes must be received by Sunday, November 16 at 11:59 p.m. Contestants whose recipes are being considered as finalists for The Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop Finale will be interviewed by the culinary team at Rider Dining Services prior to the finalist announcement on Thursday, November 20. Judges will select three qualifying, plus two alternates recipes from all student submissions compiled during the entry period listed above.
Qualifying students will have the opportunity to compete individually or team up with two members of their family, on-campus or off-campus friends at the Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop Finale on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at one of three culinary stations at Daly Dining Hall.
Entrants must be present and be able to prep, cook, and serve their recipe, starting between Noon and 1 p.m., the day of the finale to be eligible for prizes. Each contestant will receive a minimum of four hours of prep time. No contestant substitutions will be permitted.
In the event a qualifying student chef can’t compete in the Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop Finale, an alternate student chef will be chosen from the list of alternates. Gourmet Dining, LLC will be on-hand to provide basic assistance to each student chef in the preparation of his/her qualifying recipe to create between 400 and 500 servings and to ensure both the student and the university are compliant with all Lawrence Township Board of Health codes.
During the performance cooking competition, Rider students will have the opportunity to sample and vote for each of the three qualifying recipes. Voting will take place via 107.7 The Bronc’s website at www.1077TheBronc.com/TopChefVotes from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2024.
The student/recipe with the most votes at the end of the competition will be deemed winner of Rider Student Top Chef: Pop Shop and announced live at Daly Dining Hall and live on 107.7 The Bronc.
Prizes:
Entries: Every Rider student who enters will receive two tickets to Catch A Rising Star in Princeton ($80) and a pair of 30-minute jump passes ($60) to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Hamilton, plus a $70 restaurant gift card pack featuring: $20 to B2 Bistro Bar + Grill, $30 to Gretalia Hospitality Group and $20 to Lawrenceville Sandwich Company. Total Prize value: $210.00
First Place: (1) $300 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (1) Coca-Cola branded cooler filled with Coke and Coke Zero courtesy of Liberty Coca-Cola ($375 value); (1) 10-Person Group Jump with pizza and drinks (90 Mins of Jump + 1 HR in Chill Zone) at Sky Zone in Hamilton ($430 value); (1) All-Access Salon Week package, plus Cocoon Wellness Pod and Red Light Therapy and UV and Sunless Tanning courtesy of The Tanning Zone ($140 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($150 value); (2) Tickets to The Nice List at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($125 value); (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and drawstring bag ($50). Total Prize value: $1,770.00
Second Place: (1) $200 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (1) JBL Bluetooth Speaker ($125 Value); (1) 5-Person, two-hour Group Jump at Sky Zone in Hamilton ($210 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($150 value); (2) Tickets to The Nice List at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($125 value); (1) All-Access Level One Tanning week, plus (1) bottle of indoor tanning lotion courtesy of the Tanning Zone in Hamilton and Bordentown ($70 value); and (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and drawstring bag ($50). Total Prize value: $920.00
Third Place: (1) $100 Visa gift card courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc; (2) Coca-Cola and Rider branded beach chairs ($50 value); (2) Tickets to A Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre Center ($150 value); (2) Tickets to The Nice List at Bristol Riverside Theatre ($125 value); (1) $50 gift card to Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Hamilton; (1) All-Access Level One Tanning week, plus (1) bottle of indoor tanning lotion courtesy of the Tanning Zone in Hamilton and Bordentown ($70 value); and (1) Embroidered chef’s coat ($100 value) and an at-home cooking kit ($100 value) from Rider Dining Services, 107.7 The Bronc T-shirt, lanyard and drawstring bag ($50). Total Prize Value: $795
Disclaimer: No purchase necessary to enter. One entry per student. Students must be currently enrolled and attending classes during the Fall 2025 semester as either a part-time or full-time student at Rider University. Rider employees currently attending classes at Rider University are eligible to enter. Judges’ decisions are final. Employees of individual prize sponsors, the 107.7 The Bronc student executive staff, affiliate companies, advertising agencies, other radio stations and their immediate families are not eligible to enter or win. Winner is solely responsible for all applicable taxes. Prize sponsors are entirely responsible for the prizes, including their quality, service, and valid dates for redemption. 107.7 The Bronc is not responsible for cancelled events. 107.7 The Bronc is not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries. Substitution of prizes may occur. Odds of winning depend on the total number of participants. Station reserves the right to broadcast or otherwise publish the names and likeness of all Rider Student Top Chef contestants. Judging shall be the responsibility of Rider University Dining Services and 107.7 The Bronc WRRC-FM. Station reserves the right to alter contest rules including, but not limited to, the dates of the contest. Complete rules are available for inspection during regular business hours at the offices of 107.7 The Bronc, care of Rider University, Fine Arts Room 207, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. PRIZES CANNOT BE REFUNDED, RETURNED OR EXCHANGED!