schools
Harlingen kids make smash burgers, walking tacos during summer vacation
By Travis M. Whitehead at MyRGV.com (The Monitor) - All News
· June 19, 2026
· 2 min read
Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) culinary arts program students at Gutierrez Middle School cook smash burgers Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Miguel Roberts | The Brownsville Herald)
HARLINGEN — The gloved hands sliced through tomatoes and gathered chopped lettuce into small ...
Key takeaway (Miguel Roberts | The Brownsville Herald) HARLINGEN — The gloved hands sliced through tomatoes and gathered chopped lettuce into small mounds on a white cutting board.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The hands-on culinary experience at Gutierrez Middle School is a valuable addition to the summer vacation activities for Harlingen students. As part of the Texas ACE program, these cooking classes not only teach students how to prepare meals like smash burgers and walking tacos, but also provide them with essential life skills. For students like Anakin Castillo, who have some cooking experience at home, this program offers an opportunity to expand their culinary knowledge and explore new recipes. The fact that the program is hosted at a local middle school also makes it accessible to students who may not have otherwise had the chance to participate in such activities. As the summer vacation continues, it will be interesting to see how the HCISD culinary arts program and the Texas ACE program collaborate to provide more engaging and educational experiences for students in the Harlingen area.
About this story
Original reporting by MyRGV.com (The Monitor) - All News . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: schools ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: MyRGV.com (The Monitor) - All News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) culinary arts program students at Gutierrez Middle School cook smash burgers Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (Miguel Roberts | The Brownsville Herald)
HARLINGEN — The gloved hands sliced through tomatoes and gathered chopped lettuce into small ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by MyRGV.com (The Monitor) - All News and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Travis M. Whitehead at MyRGV.com (The Monitor) - All News. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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