Six students also were celebrated for their appetizers, entrees and desserts in a cooking competition as part of the Oven Masters Club.
ENFIELD - Several students enrolled in John F. Kennedy Middle School's after-school program were recognized with top prizes in the 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school competition offered by the state Department of Education.
The students were honored a celebration with Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Schumann June 12.
Six students also were celebrated for their appetizers, entrees and desserts in a cooking competition as part of the Oven Masters Club.
Sixth-grader Victoria Chorvat and seventh-graders Cat Fonseca and Sam Betancourt received awards for their public service announcement, "Disappear." Betancourt, along with seventh-graders Cody Dang and T.J. Fountaine, also received awards for their public service announcement, "Catch."
Each student received a certificate, digital camera and gift card from iTunes.
Tim Neville, chair of the Board of Education, said the JFK after-school program gives middle school students an opportunity to try new experiences.
"For over seven years, JFK After School has provided kids with homework help and unique activities," he said.
Sara Moriarty, head teacher, said Oven Masters is a cooking club that teaches students how to prepare, cook and eat nutritious food. Sixteen students were paired to test their end-of-the year cooking skills by creating an appetizer, entree or dessert. Each dish was judged by after school staff on taste, presentation and level of difficulty.
Seventh-graders Noah Nash and Fonseca won best appetizer; seventh-graders Alex Anderson and Megan Castoldi won the entree award; and Betancourt and Lindsey Stover, in sixth-grade, won the best dessert award. Schumann presented the six students cooking utensils and a copy of the 2013 Oven Masters Cookbook, created by the JFK students.
Moriarty said students in Oven Masters learned the value of culinary skills, how to work with a variety of ingredients, including new flavors through spices and herbs, and how to make nutritious substitutions in homemade meals. In addition, students learned about kitchen safety, how to use equipment properly, and food safety, she added.
The program is operated by Educational Resources for Children.
