Students, teachers, parents and community members joined forces Thursday at Travis High School to make more than 40 dozen pork and chicken tamales.

This was the eighth year for Travis High's tamalada, or tamale-making party, which welcomes members of the extended Travis family to participate. 

"The parents and community members really step up," said Principal Ty Davidson. "They always do."

The tamales are available for a donation to the school's culinary arts program, but Davidson said the fundraising aspect isn't at the forefront of the gathering.

"It's about the community," he said. "And it's very fun."

Hospitality teacher Jayma Vaughan said she had never made a tamale before.

"It's time-consuming, but it's fun, and it's fun having the parents here," Vaughan said.

A special guest for the day was Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz, who wowed with crowd with his "twin" tamale, a double-sized tamale made from a large corn husk wrapper. 

"That's a $6 tamale instead of a $3 one," Cruz said with a laugh.

Davidson took up the challenge.

"I'm going to make a triplet!" he said. 

Click here to learn more about the culinary arts and hospitality programs at Travis High School.