030326...R CULINARY 4...Champion...03-03-26...McDonald Elementary School 6th graders Haylee Mohn, 12, left, and Ayla Evinsky, 12, work together preparing biscuits during a cooking claas at TCTC...by R. Michael Semple

CHAMPION — Trumbull Career & Technical Center and Second Harvest Food Bank are collaborating to offer a culinary arts cooking class for elementary school children in Trumbull County.

Tiffany Daley, restaurant management instructor of the Culinary Arts Academy at TCTC, said this week, 17 sixth graders from McDonald Roosevelt Elementary School prepared drop biscuits and scrambled eggs as part of the class.

Daley said four times during the school year, students from different schools attend an after-school cooking program at TCTC. In addition to McDonald, students from Newton Falls also have attended.

“Second Harvest reached out to TCTC wanting to do something with cooking after school for students. The program shows students how to cook items that are staples in many families’ pantries. This program provides them with hands-on exposure to cooking,” Daley said.

She said she hopes the students learn basic at-home culinary skills.

“The children gain self confidence from what they learn and can help their parents, siblings or guardians in the kitchen. This also gives them exposure to our program and what we do,” Daley said.

She said students have fun and come into the lab and are in awe of how the program is set up.

“Many of the students have said they feel like they are part of a cooking show or watching the Food Network. They see the barista station and all we have here. I have heard some say they want to come here when they are in high school,” Daley said.

She said Second Harvest is the sponsor and provides the funds for students to get to TCTC. Daley said Second Harvest officials spoke with TCTC Superintendent Jason Gray about offering the program.

“I remember being in the kitchen as soon as I was able to stand on a chair and helping my mom. I am thrilled we have younger students being in the kitchen learning. We have had first graders and fourth graders attend programs here. So many children are afraid to cook or take on that responsibility. They worry about burning themselves or cutting themselves. We teach them about safety and having fun and being creative and tell them it is okay to mess up,” Daley said.

Amanda Boninsegna, chef and instructor of bakery/pastries at TCTC, said the students get to experience being in a kitchen and making different foods.

Xander Cole, 12, said he likes learning to cook food that he has not tried to cook before.

“I like being able to work with my classmates in preparing food. I hope to learn new cooking skills and be able to cook on my own at home or help my family,” Xander said of the reason he signed up to be part of the program.

Sophia Perline, 12, said she appreciates the opportunity to come to TCTC and learn about cooking.

“I learned about preparing foods. We were able to scramble eggs and make biscuits. I was glad for the opportunity to be here,” Sophia said.

“It is like our STEM lab at school. This gives them the opportunity to see and try different things,” Roosevelt Elementary Principal Eric Jones said.

TCTC culinary arts students Morgan Kendall of Newton Falls and Beatrice Lam-Houle of Hubbard, both seniors, assisted with the after-school program.

“I think this program allows for the visiting students to have fun and try new things. They see that is okay to mess up at times as part of learning,” Kendall said.

Lam-Houle said it is different to work with the younger students who visit TCTC.

“Some of them dressed up in chef’s outfits, which was fun,” she said.