Orefield Middle School sixth-grade student Leah Toomey, 12, was recently named the $25,000 college fund grand-prize winner in the 12th annual Jif "Most Creative Sandwich" contest.

This was Leah's second time participating in the contest.

"Two years ago, I entered and made it to the top 10, but I didn't make it any further," Leah said. "I had to skip the contest in 2012 because of making the top 10 in 2011."

Leah took several days to create the 'Crunchy, Creamy, Dreamy Finger Sandwich" she entered in the contest.

"My mother [Diane] and I just took stuff we liked and experimented with them until we found what we liked," Leah said. "We submitted my entry the night before the contest deadline."

For her sandwich, Leah used Jif Whips Creamy Whipped Peanut Butter, milk chocolate, caramel and crushed pretzels spread on ladyfinger biscuits.

Leah learned she was the grand-prize winner at an award ceremony hosted by Cohn and Wolfe Marketing Company March 20 in New York City, N.Y.

"I do not know yet what college I want to attend or what degree I want to major in," she explained.

In addition to winning the grand prize, Leah was featured on the "Today" show March 21 and the "Fox and Friends" show March 22.

"I had a good time in New York City," she said. "The award ceremony was fun. My mother and I walked a lot.

"We went to the American Girl store to eat lunch, and then we went to four different bakeries, the chocolate store and Rockefeller Center."

The young pastry chef became interested in cooking when she started baking at age 7 or 8 with her mother.

"My favorite thing to bake is brownies," she said. "The first thing I ever baked was chocolate chip cookies."

This is not the first time Leah has won first place in a contest.

"I won first place in the Honey Maid Graham Cracker Contest last May with my 'Just My Size Peanut Butter Pie,'" Leah said.

He mom said they saw the contest on the Honey Maid website and thought they would try it.

"Leah won a gift basket and trip to Mondelez International, Honey Maid's headquarters in East Hanover, N.J.," Diane Toomey said. "She got to make her pie in their test kitchen. Someday... we do not know when, the recipe will be on boxes of graham crackers."

Leah, her parents, Diane and Dennis, sisters Hannah and Sarah, and brother Andrew live in South Whitehall Township.

For the "Crunchy, Creamy, Dreamy Finger Sandwich" recipe go to jif.com.