Old Colony students compete in NASA culinary challenge

Local high school team selected to present space-ready chicken tacos at Johnson Space Center

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:55pm

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A bold, abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex interplay of nutrition, food science, and space technology required to sustain life in space.High school culinary students design innovative space-ready meals to support the future of space exploration.Houston Today

A team of culinary students from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester, Massachusetts has been selected to compete in the final round of the NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge. The students designed an Indian-inspired chicken vindaloo taco that they will present at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in late April. To help offset the costs of the trip and competition, the school has partnered with local restaurants to host a fundraiser where customers can round up their purchase to support the team.

Why it matters

The NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge provides an exciting opportunity for high school students to apply their culinary skills to the unique challenges of space travel and food preparation. By designing a shelf-stable, nutritious meal for astronauts, the Old Colony students are gaining valuable experience in food science, innovation, and problem-solving. The fundraiser also highlights the community support for these students and their pursuit of this prestigious national competition.

The details

The Old Colony team consists of seniors Ryan Eby, Leah Hollenbeck, Justin Ielo, and Anthony Rampino. They are one of only ten teams nationwide selected to compete in the final round of the NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge. For the competition, the students developed an Indian-inspired chicken vindaloo taco that meets the requirements for space travel, including being shelf-stable and nutritious. The team will travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in late April to prepare and present their dish to a panel of judges.

  • The Old Colony team was selected for the final round of the NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge.
  • The team will travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in late April 2026 to present their dish.
  • The local fundraiser at Mamma Mia's, ThreeV, and Carmela's restaurants will run through April 22, 2026 to support the team.

The players

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

A public vocational high school located in Rochester, Massachusetts that offers specialized programs in fields like culinary arts.

NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge

A national competition organized by NASA that challenges high school students to design nutritious, shelf-stable meals suitable for space travel.

Ryan Eby, Leah Hollenbeck, Justin Ielo, Anthony Rampino

Senior culinary students at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School who were selected to represent their school in the final round of the NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge.

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What they’re saying

“We're really excited to have the opportunity to showcase our culinary skills on a national stage and contribute to the future of space exploration.”

— Ryan Eby, Old Colony culinary student

What’s next

The Old Colony team will travel to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in late April 2026 to present their Indian-inspired chicken vindaloo taco dish to the NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge judges.

The takeaway

This competition highlights the innovative and collaborative spirit of high school students, who are applying their culinary expertise to the unique challenges of space travel. The community support for the Old Colony team's journey to the national finals demonstrates the pride and investment in the next generation of food scientists and space explorers.