METHUEN — Students had everything they needed to make a great sandwich: bread, meat, hummus, vegetables, fruit, cheese and sauce. But if they wanted a shot at winning $100, they had to create something that met the judges' criteria — it had to be healthy, and it had to be presented well.
About 50 students at the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative competed in the school's first-ever Wrap Contest at lunchtime Wednesday. Competitors presented their eats to the panel of judges, which consisted of three teachers and one administrator.
"They have to tell us, 'I have proteins, I have greens, I have leafy vegetables,'" said Linda Hakesley, a career skills and desktop publishing teacher who was a judge.
Healthy eating was the theme, said culinary arts teacher and event organizer Blaine Gann.
"Sure, we have some meats," he said. "But mostly it's vegetables, salads — that's really the thrust of what we're doing."
Tayla Bonvie, a 16-year-old sophomore from Pelham, N.H., won the competition with a wrap that included roasted pepper hummus, peppers, provolone cheese, lettuce and turkey. She took home the $100 cash prize.
Rosita Kumar, a 15-year-old freshman from Methuen, and Juda Concepcion, an 18-year-old junior from Lawrence, worked as a team and placed third and won $40 for their sandwich, dubbed the Dominicano Delight.
Their wrap included hummus, ranch dressing, organic olive oil, soy beans, lettuce, broccoli, olives, tomatoes, spinach, provolone cheese, tuna, onions, basil and salt. They used blueberries to garnish.
"We're both on diets," Concepcion said. "We're trying to eat healthy," Kumar added.
One kid who didn't place in the contest but nonetheless deserved points for creativity was Peter Fisher. The 18-year-old senior from North Andover made a wrap with roast beef, turkey, water melon, cucumbers, peppers and mustard.
"I just put together whatever I was hungry for," he said.
Companies that sell products to the school — Piro's Bakery, Costa Fruit & Produce, Hannah and Shaheen Brothers — donated the food and prize money, Gann said.
The school, based at 480 Broadway, provides educational, vocational and therapeutic programs for mentally, emotionally and physically challenged students.
Contest results
1. Tayla Bonvie
2. Ricky Butts and Devon Hinkson (tie)
3. Rosita Kumar and Juda Concepcion (they worked as a team)
4. Nate Pena
5. Chris Cormier
6. Teddy Lee
7. Zach Caldwell
