NY J01518

Southampton Intermediate School eighth-grade students, competing as "Mac Island Mariners," won first place in the middle school division of Cornell University's New York Agriculture in the Classroom Mac and Cheese Challenge, selected from over 260 statewide submissions

The winning entry was an innovative mac and cheese chicken pot pie, judged for culinary skill, originality, and integration of agricultural and nutritional knowledge

Students were required to develop an original recipe, design marketing materials, and create a slogan; their marketing included a fishing-themed T-shirt reflecting Long Island's East End heritage

The team visited Mecox Bay Dairy Farm to learn about dairy farming and participated in a nutrition workshop led by the school district's Director of Food Services

Team members recognized are Cole Collins, Gabe Galvis Mejia, Chris Glorioso, Kiran Hedge, Charlie Holle, Bryce McGowin, Edwin Pina Bonilla, Luka Pisano, Kabir Vivanco, Matthew Vivanco, and Read Wilutis