The Taste of Langston: 2025’s Campus Culinary Artists

At Langston University, you don’t have to go far to find good food. Between classes, clubs, and late-night study sessions, a lot of students are finding creative ways to make money and share their talents. One thing about LU, we got some serious cooks on campus. Today, we are spotlighting two of them: Railani McCoy, the cupcake boss, and Zora Young, who everybody calls “the Cookie Lady.”

Railani McCoy: Smiles on the East Side

Railani McCoy is only a sophomore business management major, but she already runs her own business, The Whisk and Sugar. She sells cupcakes, cookies and cakes at Langston and across the Oklahoma City metro area.

Her love for food started in her grandpa’s kitchen, where she learned how to cook Sunday dinners from scratch. But while she can still whip up a mean plate of smothered pork chops, McCoy’s biggest sellers are her cupcakes, especially her lemon and strawberry flavors. She experements with different versions like strawberry tres leches, strawberry crunch, and lemon pudding filled cupcakes.

“People love them because you can actually taste the fruit,” she explained. “It’s like eating a real lemon or strawberry, just sweet instead of sour.”

Balancing school and business hasn’t been easy, but Railani keeps her schedule tight. “I only sell on certain days so I can ge schoolwork done first,” she said. The hardest part for her isn’t baking: it’s the business side, like pricing, keeping inventory and handling orders.

“That’s why I’m in school, to get better at the business side while already knowing the creative side,” she said.

Looking ahead, McCoy already knows where she wants to be.

“In five years, I see myself on the Eastside of OKC,” she said. “I still want to offer deliveries and pick ups, but really, I just want to keep putting smile on the east side faces.”

You can find McCoy’s business Instagram at @thewhiskandsugar.

Zora Young: The Cookie Lady

If you’ve ever had a late-night sweet craving at LU, chances are you’ve run into Zora Young. Young is a senior business finance major from Los Angeles and the owner of Z sweets. She sells cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, pies – basically anything sweet.

Zora grew up baking with her grandma (who she calls “Honey”), and she sharpened her skills during COVID.

“One day I made banana bread, then cookies, and just kept practicing. My mom told me I should start a business, so I did,” she said. By high school, Young was baking for classmates and birthday parties.

Her best sellers? Cookies of course. Her biscoff cookie with white chocolate and cookie butter is the fan favorite. “They taste just like the airplane cookies but better,” she laughed.

For Young, baking is also family and memories. Her peach cobbler recipe comes from her late auntie, who passed right before she started college.

“She was the first to see my acceptance letter and told me I was going to get into college. That cobbler is really special to me,” Young said. Her sweet potato pie recipe is another family heirloom from her granpa.

Like McCoy, Young also faces challenges baking on campus. Without a full kitchen, she makes do with a toaster oven in her dorm, only four cookies at a time, and she sometimes hauls ingredients to friends’ apartments. Still, she doesn’t let it stop her. “People are always asking me when I’m baking again.”

After graduation, Young plans to attend pastry school to learn how to make wedding cakes and fine desserts. One day, she dreams of owning her bakery. For now, you can find her on Instagram at @zzs_sweets.

More Than Just Food

What Railani and Zora have in common is bigger than just sugar and flour; it’s passion, family, and hustle. Both of them balance classes with their business, both are inspired by loved ones, and both dream big with their businesses in the future.

Langston’s campus is full of student entrepreneurs, and the food scene is definitely alive. Next time you’re craving something sweet, don’t look too far; the best bakers might be sitting right next to you in class!