Food Science Student Awards

Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences

USU's Food Science students have completed many award-winning projects in the last few years. Check out their successes below!

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2026 product development team poses with their award winning pizza called athena's slice
Athena's Slice

Product: Students were challenged to develop products that support bone health, muscle health, and weight management and this team created a high-protein personal pizza called Athena’s Slice that featured a high-protein crust made of approximately 85% dairy ingredients.

Award: Girst place in the Dairy Managment Inc. New Product Competition in spring 2026

Team: Taelie Kennedy, Angalee Brinkerhoff, and Erynn Chidester

From left to right, Eric Bastian, Josie Sorensen, Taelie Kennedy, Sarah Petmecky, Prateek Sharma, and Alan Reed pose with the ChiaChill poster.
ChiaChill

Product: ChiaChill is a dairy and chia based frozen fudge pop.

Award: They won the grand prize and $10,000 at the Intermountain Milk Processors Association Conference in 2025.

Team: Josie Sorensen, Taelie Kennedy and Sarah Petmecky

Cache's Cookies are cannoli inspired cookies and dip
Cache's Cookies

Product: Cache’s Cookies introduce an innovative twist to traditional cookies, inspired by the classic Italian cannoli. These unique cookies combine a blend of dairy ingredients, delivering both exceptional flavor and a good source of dairy protein. Cache’s Cookies are a cookie and a dip combo, which together include ricotta, cream cheese, butter, non-fat dry milk powder (NDFM), and skim milk (61.4% dairy ingredients). Consumers can easily dunk the cookie into the ricotta-based dip, and upon taking a bite will enjoy a cannoli-inspired blend of flavors and textures. Enhancing the overall experience, the cookie’s dip is studded with mini milk chocolate chips, providing a delightful contrast to the crispy cookie and creamy dip. Cache’s Cookies are conveniently packaged with about 30 grams of cookies and a serving of dip, making them a perfect, on-the-go treat. Cache’s Cookies offer a delectable solution for any time of the day, ideal for pairing with sack lunches or satisfying mid-day cravings.

Award: They won the 2024 Idaho Milk Processors Association’s new product competition and $10,000.

Team:

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The cotta tots product development team holds their product in front of the NFS building.
Cotta Tots

Product: Cotta Tots are a novel dairy snack created by the product development team at Utah State University. The name “Cotta Tots” is derived from the product's main base ingredient ricotta, and describes the shape of the small, bite sized pieces. Each tot is crispy and golden on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. These tots are perfect for a party, appetizer, or a quick snack. Cotta Tots are sold frozen and can be air-fried or oven-baked at home. They are best served warm alongside the included dipping sauce. This product is versatile as the base dough can be flavored to make both sweet and savory tots. Cotta Tots will soon become a staple finger food, alongside pizza rolls, chicken nuggets, or mozzarella sticks that both old and young will enjoy.

Award: Cotta Tots won first prize at the IMPA product development competition in 2024.

Team: Nathan Pace, Rachel Lindstrom, Taelie Kennedy, Rachel Davis, and Sam Clarke.




cran pop is a savory snack
Cran-Pop

Product: Cran-Pop is composed of 37% cranberry waste stream/cranberry fiber. It's vegan, allergen-free, gluten-free, and free from artificial preservatives, colors and sweeteners. It's cholesterol-free and contains no added sugar.

Award: Cran-Pop won first place for Cran-Pop in the Ocean Spray Student Product Development Competition in 2023.

Team: Melissa Marsh, Chandler Stafford, Mackenzie Taylor, and Nathan Pougher.

Saurus Snacks won third prize in the 2022 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition. Saurus Snacks ae made of a meringue eggshell that encloses a dinosaur inside and incorporates protein and fiber in the formulation. The team members were Melissa Marsh and Annalisa Jones.
Saurus Snacks

Product: Saurus Snacks are made of a meringue eggshell that encloses a dinosaur inside and incorporates protein and fiber in the formulation. 

Award: Saurus Snacks won third prize in the 2022 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition.

Team: Melissa Marsh and Annalisa Jones

Moba Boba won first prize in the 2022 National Dairy Council Product Development Competition. Moba Boba is a dairy-based energy drink with high protein boba gummies in a carbonated pineapple drink.The team members were Melissa Marsh, Mackenzie Taylor, Nathan Paugher and Chandler Stafford.
Moba Boba

Product: Moba Boba is a dairy-based energy drink with high protein boba gummies in a carbonated pineapple drink.

Award: Moba Boba won first prize in the 2022 National Dairy Council Product Development Competition.

Team: Melissa Marsh, Mackenzie Taylor, Nathan Pougher and Chandler Stafford

Fresno and Xalapa won first prize in the 2021 Ocean Spray Product Development Competition. These are cranberry based hot sauces. The team members were Melissa Marsh, Annalisa Jones, and Weston Christensen.
Xalapa and Fresno Hot Sauces

Product: Fresno and Xalapa are cranberry-based hot sauces.

Award: Fresno and Xalapa won first prize in the 2021 Ocean Spray Product Development Competition.

Team: Melissa Marsh, Annalisa Jones, and Weston Christensen

Moonola won first prize in the 2020 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition. Moonola is a convenient snack or cereal and just add water to get a cereal in milk. The team members were Melissa Marsh, Savannah Branson and Jared Buhler.
Moonola

Product: Moonola is a convenient snack or cereal and just add water to get a cereal in milk.

Award: Moonola won first prize in the 2020 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition.

Team: Melissa Marsh, Savannah Branson and Jared Buhler

Dynamo Dinos won first prize in the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition. Dynamo Dinos is a cookie dough like protein-packed snack. It has whole grain oats, almond butter, protein powder, and dates to provide a nutritionally balanced snack . The team members were Melissa Marsh, Andrew Gagan and Savanah Branson.
Dynamo Dinos

Product: Dynamo Dinos is a cookie dough like protein-packed snack. It has whole grain oats, almond butter, protein powder, and dates to provide a nutritionally balanced snack.

Award: Dynamo Dinos won first prize in the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition.

Team: Melissa Marsh, Andrew Gagan and Savanah Branson

Cosmic Crackers won second prize in the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition. Cosmic crackers are a lentil-based cracker that are good sources of fiber and protein. The team members were Vidita Deshpande and Zachary Cooper.
Cosmic Crackers

Product: Cosmic crackers are a lentil-based cracker that are good sources of fiber and protein.

Award: Cosmic Crackers won second prize in the 2019 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition.

Team: Vidita Deshpande and Zachary Cooper

Cauli-Crust Pizza bites won second prize in the 2018 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition. This product is low in fat and a good source of fiber, protein and calcium. The team members were Vidita Deshpande, Cheryl Lyn Lyman, and Zachary Cooper.
Cauli-Crust Pizza Bites

Product: Cauli-Crust Pizza bites are a snack that's low in fat and a good source of fiber, protein and calcium.

Award: Cauli-Crust Pizza bites won second prize in the 2018 Institute of Food Technologists Smart Snacks for Kids Competition.

Team: Vidita Deshpande, Cheryl Lyn Lyman, and Zachary Cooper