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Home sweet home: Yale undergrad continues a gingerbread tradition
When Nellie Conover-Crockett ’22 completed a gingerbread replica of Sterling Memorial Library in 2020, the Yale College junior set a standard for edible architecture that even James Gamble Rogers might have struggled to meet.
For her senior year, she’s raised the bar: With the help of some classmates, Conover-Crockett recently completed an even more elaborate, deliciously detailed gingerbread replica of her home-away-from-home Trumbull College.
Baked and constructed in Trumbull’s Head of College House, the cookie college took over 12 hours and six batches of gingerbread to complete.
“I had the personal joy of smelling gingerbread baking for two full days,” said Trumbull Head Margaret Clark.
There was plenty of good feeling to go around.
“I’m always so speechless at Nellie’s creativity when it comes to baking and decorating,” said Wyatt Sluga ’22, one of the classmates who assisted Conover-Crockett. “I think she was excited to share the creative experience with others this year, too — she frequently voiced how pleased she was to have a little extra decorating help.”
Sarah McKinnis ’22, another member of the construction team, echoed her appreciation of the communal experience: “It was really fun to spend time decorating it with other people in Trumbull, and it was also a great study break.”
As for Conover-Crockett’s plans after graduation, she’s applying to law schools — and plotting her next sweet feat. “I’ll almost certainly build something grand,” she said.