Harford County Students Participate in Ice Cream University Hosted by TIC Gums

From TIC Gums:

Eleven local high school students from Harford County Public Schools participated in this year’s Ice Cream University hosted by TIC Gums at the Texture Innovation Center in White Marsh, MD. The program is based on Cornell University’s Food Science 101 course which is required for incoming freshman of the College of Food Science. TIC Gums sponsored each student’s $500 program fee and provided home ice cream makers upon program completion.

The winning ice cream named Movie Night was the creation of Afsa Simpson, Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School; Ianna Pirozzi, The John Carroll School; and Jillian Hensley, Sollers Point Technical High School. “Ice Cream University has been such a wonderful experience. We’ve broadened our horizons and gained a wonderful amount of knowledge of food science. We are all very grateful to have been part of this program,” said a team representative. Movie Night was created with a sweet popcorn flavor, covered in almond pieces and caramel covered pretzels.

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Tim Andon, Ice Cream University Program Director and Cornell alumnus, led the five week course. “This is a great opportunity for college-bound students with an interest in science and marketing to learn about food science and gain hands-on experience in the food and beverage industry. Students apply food science principles to their unique ice cream formulations and innovative marketing campaigns,” said Andon.

The first weeks of study focused on scientific principles such as emulsions, overrun calculation, ice crystal formation and statistical know-how for tracking and maintaining quality. The attention then turned to flavor selection and inclusions like nuts, chocolate or fruit, before finalizing the product packaging. Students learned how the food industry positions its products to appeal to market demand, covering the four P’s of marketing including product, place, price and promotion.

The students’ ice cream and marketing presentations were judged on Saturday, April 30 by a tasting panel including Elizabeth Haven, Executive Vice President of TIC Gums; Alicia Orta-Ramirez, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Food Science at Cornell University; Robert Limpert, Supervisor of Business, Technology and Magnet Programs of Harford County Public Schools; Michelle Mason, Family and Consumer Science Teacher at Fallston High School; Jill Kruger, Family and Consumer Science Department Chair at Patterson Mill High School; Janey Wolff, General Manager of Broom’s Bloom Dairy; and Jamie and Findlay Haven, ice cream lovers and representatives of the adolescent demographic.

The winning ice cream, Movie Night, will be produced and sold in the coming weeks at Broom’s Bloom Dairy store located in Harford County.