LI School District Wins 1st Place In Statewide Mac And Cheese Challenge

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton students are celebrating a cheesy win.

The Southampton Intermediate School students emerged victorious in Cornell University’s "New York Agriculture in the Classroom Mac and Cheese Challenge", the district said. The school’s student team, Mac Island Mariners, earned top honors in the middle school division.

The statewide competition featured more than 260 submissions from across New York, with the Mac Island Mariners impressing judges with their mac and cheese chicken pot pie that "combined culinary skill, innovation, and an understanding of agriculture and nutrition," district officials said.

As part of the challenge, students were required to develop an original recipe, create a marketing component and design a slogan. The team’s marketing piece included a custom T-shirt inspired by a fishing theme, reflecting the East End of Long Island and the community’s connection to the water, district officials said.

To deepen their understanding of where food comes from, students visited Mecox Bay Dairy Farm, where they learned about dairy farming and the milking process. The team also participated in a nutrition workshop led by Regan Kiembock, director of food services.

"The students worked consistently hard and gave 100 percent effort throughout this project," said Christina Duryea, culinary arts and family and consumer science teacher. "I am incredibly proud of their dedication, creativity and teamwork."

The winning team included eighth grade students 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.