9:33 a.m., Nov. 25, 2008----Move over, Mrs. Smith, and let the University of Delaware's piepalooza bakers show you how to make delectable, delicious, made-from-scratch Thanksgiving pies that melt in your mouth.

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Each year the University's McNair Scholars get together and make pies for those less fortunate--not just a few pies, but 225 apple, cherry and pumpkin pies, which are delivered by Maria Palacas, director of the program, and a team of McNair graduate students to Meals on Wheels, Emmanuel Dining room, House of Joseph, three Mary of Hope Houses, St. Patrick Center, Friendship House, Andrew's Place, Ronald McDonald House and Meeting Ground.

“They know us,” Palacas said. “When they see us coming, we get comments like, 'Oh, we remember those pies; they are so good!'”

The ingredients for the pies include 35 pounds of Crisco, 120 pounds of cherry pie filling, the same amount of canned pumpkin and 12 bushels of apples all in need of peeling and coring.

Everything, except student pie prowess, is donated by Acme, BJ's, Safeway, SuperG, Target, WaWa, U.S. Foods, Milburn's Orchards and Fulton Paper Company.

There was a party-like atmosphere when the bakers gathered at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Newark for a day-long bake-a-thon from 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, which continued until the last pie was popped in the oven and the kitchen got its final scrubbing late in the afternoon. “A palooza is defined as a crazy party,” Palacas said, “but this is the party of parties, where giving to others out of compassion and care is the most important ingredient.”

Here's what of the McNair Scholars say about the event.

Yianna Antonopoulos, '09 AS, said, “It was fun to get together and help people in the community. It is comforting to know that those receiving the pies know that people thought of them and set aside time to make something for them.”

Her sister, Christina, '09 AS, agreed. “I am so thankful for having had the opportunity to bake pies for people who are less fortunate than I. Being in that kitchen with the McNair family made me realize how blessed we all truly are. I feel grateful for being able to contribute some of my time for a good cause.”

“We live in a culture that places a higher value on 'self' than it does on 'others,'” Grace Chou,' 09 AS, said. “To me Piepalooza with Dr. Palacas and other students is an opportunity to sacrifice some of that 'self' in order to bring joy to another family during this season of thanksgiving. Making hundreds of pies for the homeless is a very small way to show that we are supposed to love one another because we have been blessed beyond measure.”

Obinna Mmagu, '09 AS, said, “Piepalooza brings out the best in the McNair Scholars. Despite our busy lives, Piepalooza is where we get together and serve our local community with great dedication and fun.”

“There's a lot of work that goes into making pies,” Robert Gooden, '09 AG, said. “That must mean there is even more commitment in making pies for people in need. It's a good feeling to make the world a sweeter place.”

There is added bonus to the Piepalooza, Palacas added. “Many of the students feel confident of their pie-making skills after Piepalooza and when they go home for Thanksgiving, they make pies for their families.”

The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program honors the African-American astronaut who died in the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle in 1986 and helps students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to get into graduate programs of their choice and receive funding.

Article by Sue Moncure

Photos by Duane Perry and Tyler Jacobson