04 August 2009

Eight local schools marked the success of their pupils in a new Food Development Scheme at the Celebration Ceremony held at Loughry Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise.

Sentinus in conjunction with Improve, Food and Drink Sector Skills Council and facilitated by Loughry Campus, launched the Food Development Scheme in 2009, aimed at enlightening young people about the challenges and opportunities presented by science and technology in the workplace. During the scheme Year 13, Lower Sixth Form pupils worked with food scientists and technologists from local food companies on a research, development and design problem over a period of five months. A total of 27 pupils from 8 schools piloted the scheme, with the pupils utilising the superb food processing and analysis facilities at Loughry during workshops sessions to progress their practical work.

The scheme allowed the pupils the unique opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of food science and technology and to gain an insight into the role of a food technologist within the food industry. The pupils are also able to use their participation on the scheme to gain a CREST Gold Award, and for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) is a major national award scheme to recognise students’ creative achievement in science and technology.

The scheme culminated in the Celebration Day at Loughry, where the pupils presented their projects to a panel of judges in front of an audience of their peers, teachers and company representatives.

Sixth Form pupils David Young, Aoife O’Donnell and Rebecca Hunter, from Strabane Grammar School prepare to present the findings of their research project with McColgan’s Quality Foods, as their Science teachers Mr Stephen Dunn and Mr Stephen Haughey look on

St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon, Sixth Form pupils Caoimhe O’Neill, Julie McCann and Orlagh Hayden, who completed their project with Dale Farm (Cookstown), are congratulated by their Home Economics teacher Mrs Joanne Maguire and Mr Rodney Stewart, from Dale Farm Ltd

Home Economics teacher Mrs Deirdre Hegarty, from St Catherine’s College, Armagh, Seamus Cassidy, Unimush Ireland, and Derek McDowell, Head of Food Education, Loughry Campus admire the range of mushroom products produced by Sixth Form pupils Rebecca Cassidy, Hannah Boyle and Amy Gribbon

As part of the Food Development Scheme, Sixth Form pupils, Megan Crooks, Christine Murphy and Laura Hooke, from Methodist College, Belfast, worked with Avondale Foods to develop a range of soup based products. Also pictured is their Home Economics teacher Ms Jayne Lloyd

Mr Fred Skelly, from Norbev and Home Economics teacher Ms Julie Gaston congratulate pupils Gabrielle Nugent, Hannah Todd and Carly Dawson from Ballyclare High School on their project work into soft drinks, completed as part of the Food Development Scheme

Sixth Form pupils Moyra Fox, Megan McElhatton, Laura Fitzpatrick and Grainne McGirr are congratulated by Mr Tim Candor, from Fivemiletown Creamery and their teacher Ms Aisling Johnston on their project work into cheese manufacture, completed as part of the Food Development Scheme

Sixth Form pupils Rachel Devine, Basil Babu and Rebecca Grant from Antrim Grammar School, who completed their project with Dale Farm (Ballymena), are congratulated by their Home Economics teacher Mrs Jackie Henderson and Mr Rodney Stewart, from Dale Farm Ltd