Big Wins for Student Teams

Students put their skills and knowledge to the test in a variety of competitions at IFT FIRST, including product development contests, the 40th Annual IFT Student Association (IFTSA) College Bowl, and research competitions.

Cornell University students had a big year, placing first in the College Bowl and winning three product development competitions.

Here’s a look at some of the teams and individuals who came out on top at IFT FIRST.

College Bowl Competition—The Cornell University team beat the University of Arkansas team in the final round to earn the title of College Bowl champion and a $1,000 prize.

IFTSA & Mars Product Development Competition—Another Cornell team moved into the winner’s circle in this competition, winning a $3,000 first prize for NoriNom, a shelf-stable premium snack that delivers the flavors of sushi in a crunchy, bite-sized format.

Smart Snacks for Kids Product Development Competition—This competition brought yet another win for a Cornell team, which took home first place and a $3,000 prize for IamFan, a nutrient-packed savory snack inspired by pineapple fried rice.

American Egg Board’s Eggcelerator Lab Product Development Competition—Again, it was Cornell for the win, with this team earning an $8,000 grand prize for Eggsential Cereal, a globally inspired, shelf-stable product featuring crispy egg yolk pieces, chocolate, chia-coated chickpeas, and freeze-dried fruit.

Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Product Development Competition—This year’s winning team, which won the $3,000 top prize, was the team from McGill University for TesfaTena, a nutrient-dense block designed to combat malnutrition, especially among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers in Ethiopia.

Graduate Research Video Competition—Kriza Faye Calumba from the University of Tennessee was this year’s winner for her research on “Shellac-Based Encapsulation for Targeted Probiotic Delivery.”

Undergraduate Research Competition—Joshua Cruz-Noguera from the University of Costa Rica won $1,000 for his research on “Optimization of Freeze-Drying Conditions for Potential Probiotics from a Blue Zone: A Multi-Stage Evaluation to Improve Survival of Longevity-Linked Isolates.”

The finalists and other IFTSA members who attended IFT FIRST also had the opportunity to participate in exclusive networking events, including PepsiCo Meet & Greets at the IFTSA Student Lounge. Additionally, hundreds of students shared their research posters at the Poster & Research Showcase on the expo floor.ft