Congratulations to our 2022 School Nutrition Heroes!

“Andrea always has a smile on her face for the kids. She is a hard worker, and she is willing to pick up and help out where ever she is needed.”

~ Honored by Matt Gordon, Superintendent; Amherst Public School

“Juli is a hard worker who loves each of the kids she serves. Our district has never had a breakfast program until this year. She was willing to step up and provide the kids with what ever they needed.”

~ Honored by Matt Gordon, Superintendent; Amherst Public School

“Kim is a hard worker that can be counted on helping out where ever she is needed. She loves the kids and it shows in her work.”

~ Honored by Matt Gordon, Superintendent; Amherst Public School

“Karee is our food service manager and she is always there to help if we need help for field trips or other food needs. She is always so kind and helpful to the whole staff.”

~ Honored by Roxanne Kingston, Teacher; Ashland-Greenwood Elementary

“Karee and her staff worked diligently to make sure all of our students and families had access to meals during the pandemic! She continues to provide an excellent service and product to our school district!”

~ Honored by Jill Finkey, School Administrator; Ashland-Greenwood Elementary

“Kelly provides tasty and interesting lunch items on a daily basis for students despite supply chain interruptions. She works with her team to come up with creative alternatives when relying on “what’s on hand” when “what is ordered” doesn’t come! As part of our Farm to School team, she engages students in activities to help them connect the food they eat with local sources.”

~ Honored by Evelyn Browne, Superintendent; Banner County Public School

“Anita makes sure the high school kids get a great breakfast and lunch every day!”

~ Honored by Shane Alexander, Superintendent; Bloomfield Community School

“Mrs. Nipp makes sure all of our kids get great meals every day.”
~ Honored by Shane Alexander, Superintendent; Bloomfield Community School

“Mrs. Nipp is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero because she is at work before she needs to be and stays late almost everyday. She serves us amazing homecooked meals and is always making sure everyone got enough to eat. She has been working short staff all year long and still has a smile on her face. “

~ Honored by Tabitha Gilsdorf, Elementary Principal, Bloomfield Community School

“Our Lunch Heroes always think about our students first, and like to make sure their meals are healthy. They like to make sure the kids like the meals they are fed as well. Our lunch heroes are very much appreciated and they are awesome for what they do for our school!!”

~ Honored by Sarah Sass, Secondary Secretary; Cedar Bluffs Public Schools

“Our Lunch Heroes always think about our students first, and like to make sure their meals are healthy. They like to make sure the kids like the meals they are fed as well. Our lunch heroes are very much appreciated and they are awesome for what they do for our school!!”

~ Honored by Sarah Sass, Secondary Secretary; Cedar Bluffs Public Schools

“Our Lunch Heroes always think about our students first, and like to make sure their meals are healthy. They like to make sure the kids like the meals they are fed as well. Our lunch heroes are very much appreciated and they are awesome for what they do for our school!!”

~ Honored by Sarah Sass, Secondary Secretary; Cedar Bluffs Public Schools

“Dianne has put her whole heart into our program and feeding our students. She has made huge changes in the quality of the food that we serve and has made our kitchen a much better place to be. She is a great leader and an amazing team mate!”

~ Honored by Donna Walgren, Food Service Manager; Centennial Public School

“Hillary is probably one of the most positive individuals I have ever known. She has such a bubbly personality and always has something positive to say to all the students and staff that come through the cafeteria. She brightens up every room she walks into. “

~ Honored by Frank Jesse, Superintendent; Chambers Public School

“Leanne works relentlessly to ensure the beef in school program continued through the pandemic and when the salad bar was discontinued made sure that students had a wide variety of options and servings to meet their needs. She is very conscious about keeping the cafeteria and kitchen clean doing her part to keep students in school. Students love having input in the development of the monthly menus and she is always working to make the cafeteria an inviting place to be.”

~ Honored by Frank Jesse, Superintendent; Chambers Public School

“Nicole is always has a smile on her face and offers a warm hello to every student. She is quick to help the younger students through the salad bar line and open their milk cartons. Nicole is a natural artist and puts her talents on display in decorating the cafeteria and providing her unique drawings on the white board menu.”

~ Honored by Frank Jesse, Superintendent; Chambers Public School

“Mary Meisinger, our Conestoga Head Cook led her kitchen staffs to provide outstanding daily meals for our students! Many safety precautions were in place and kitchen staff reported to work during the pandemic shutdown days to provide meals-to-go for all the students of Conestoga. They worked together, never complaining, and always happy to do their part for the kids. Mary and her outstanding cooks are important to the students and families of Conestoga! Much appreciation and respect goes to these committed people.”

~ Honored by Beth Johnsen, Superintendent; Conestoga Public Schools

“Julie is one of the hardest working people I know and is always looking at ways to improve our lunch program. She wants what is best for our students and district.”

~ Honored by Josh Weber, Superintendent; Creighton Community Schools

“Jeanna is a very hard working staff member for D-T. She goes above and beyond to always prepare a wonderful salad bar for our students and staff. We have gotten so many compliments on our salad bar since she has taken it over. We are fortunate to have her on our team.”

~ Honored by Jeremy Braden, Superintendent; Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools

“Mrs. Burmood has been instrumental in changing the culture surrounding food services. Mrs. Burmood has created an environment that is warm, welcoming and family oriented while providing a menu students enjoy. “

~ Honored by Vern Fisher, Superintendent; Gibbon Public Schools

“Kristina does a fantastic job organizing and promoting fun activities to get kids excited for school breakfast and lunch!”

~ Honored by Angie Clevenger, Teacher/Parent; Gibbon Public Schools

“Maria ALWAYS has a smile on her face and treats the children kindly.”

~ Honored by Chelsea, Paraprofessional; Gibbon Public Schools

“All 5 of these ladies are amazing school nutrition heroes! Even through the pandemic, staff and food shortages this team made sure our Gibbon students had nutritious meals everyday. They always have a smile on their face and a positive attitudes! We are so thankful for their servant hearts. “

~ Honored by Kristina Burmood, Director of Nutritional Services; Gibbon Public Schools

“Patty, Deb, Tiffany, and Jackson work extremely hard to cook and serve tasty, hot meals to our students and staff. They are always friendly and go above and beyond to meet the nutritional needs of our school. The kitchen is clean, bright and welcoming and the service is friendly.”

~ Honored by Stacey Deterding, Principal; Gretna Public Schools, Aspen Creek Middle School

“Overall the team has been spread thin with lack of staff and lack of consistent food deliveries all year. Despite all obstacles, they have maintained amazing service to the students and school community. I could not be more proud of how hard they work each and every day. “

~ Honored by Sharon Schaefer, Director of FANS; Gretna Public Schools

“Sharon is the definition of a servant leader. She doesn’t hesitate and does whatever it takes to make sure the students have a hot delicious lunch everyday. Throughout the pandemic she has been creative in getting meals to students whether we are remote learning or in person. With the staff shortage, she does whatever job is necessary for that day. Our program is one of the best if not the best under her leadership. We can never thank her enough for all that she has done.”

~ Honored by Rich Beran, Superintendent; Gretna Public Schools

“Sharon keeps the WHOLE COMMUNITY informed of what’s going on with Gretna’s nutrition program. She is communicative, knowledgeable, accessible, and goes out of her way to make healthy choices fun for students and easy for their caregivers. She is truly an asset to our district.”

~ Honored by Kara Alexander, City Councilwoman; Gretna Public Schools

“She knows the children by their names and knows what they want for lunch or an extra. If a child is having a bad day, she will go out and see what is wrong and try to help them.”

~ Honored by Sheila Scholting, Manager of Gretna Elementary; Gretna Public Schools

“Harvest Hills Elementary School is the newest addition to the Gretna Public Schools family. When opening a new school, families from multiple buildings are moved and merged together as is staff. As a new building grows, culture is developed in the traditions brought along with staff, and the ones they have begun to develop with new colleagues along the way. Charleen understands and celebrates the impact that a kitchen can have when opening a new school. As are other buildings all across the nation, Gretna Public Schools are in lack of staff. To support our lack of kitchen staff, teachers sub in each day. They do this because it’s the right thing to do, it’s what’s best for kids, but ultimately, because they care deeply for Charleen and her crew. Charleen and her staff greet children each day warmly, no matter where they came from. They know and believe that interaction, no matter how small, makes a difference for all of our kids at Harvest Hills.”

~ Honored by Kirsten Troester, Building Principal; Gretna Public Schools, Harvest Hills Elementary

“Harry brings a positive attitude and an outgoing personality to school every day. He jumps in to help complete any task as needed.”

~ Honored by Teresa Berck, Office/Lunch Secretary; Gretna Public Schools, Palisades Elementary

“Kim has done an amazing job managing our wonderful kitchen staff. She works very being flexible with our breakfast and lunch menus as the supply chain shortage has impacted long term planning. We surveyed our students this fall and in each survey the students ranked that the food service staff are very nice, ranking in the 90+ percentile in each survey and they also agreed that the food was healthy as well. Meals that are the most popular include Breakfast for Lunch, Pasta/Italian dishes and Mexican food. “

~ Honored by Jane Davis, Superintendent; Hershey Public Schools

“The students at the HPC 7th-12th grade site appreciate the work that Petra has put in to making our nutrition program healthy and a place where kids enjoy coming to eat! She listens to our students, works extremely hard each day preparing food, and takes great pride in her program!”

~ Honored by Cameron Hudson, 7-12 Principal; High Plains Community Schools

“Donna is a School Nutrition Hero because she diligently makes food from scratch each day for our elementary students. Students and staff alike appreciate her expertise in baked goods and pastries! HPC elementary is so thankful to have Donna on the kitchen team!”

~ Honored by Bre Helgoth, Elementary Principal; High Plains Community Schools

“The students at the HPC 7th-12th grade site appreciate the work that Nadine has put in to making our nutrition program healthy and a place where kids enjoy coming to eat! She listens to our students, works extremely hard each day preparing food, and takes great pride in her program!”

~ Honored by Cameron Hudson, Principal; High Plains Community Schools

“Penny is a School Nutrition Hero because she consistently creates opportunities for student choice through food samplings for students and feedback on their preferred dishes. She creates a multitude of new dishes from scratch for students and allows them voice and choice in menus and class meals! Penny goes above and beyond to serve delicious food that students and staff enjoy! “

~ Honored by Bre Helgoth, Elementary Principal; High Plains Community Schools

“Sandy does a wonderful job feeding our students.”

~ Honored by George W Griffith, Superintendent; Humbolt-Table Rock-Steinauer Public Schools

“Excellent team member and works hard for our kids.”

~ Honored by George W Griffith, Superintendent; Humbolt-Table Rock-Steinauer Public School

“She works hard and provides great meals for our students.”

~ Honored by George W Griffith, Superintendent; Humbolt-Table Rock-Steinauer Public School

“Kate’s work ethic is unmatched. She is relentless in providing our students with the best meals. She works the food lines when her staff is missing. She is always professional and pleasant. Thank You Kate!”

~ Honored by Tori Stofferson, Communications Director; Kearney Public Schools

“Chef Amy is amazing. She is very personable and is kind to all who come into the lunchroom. She creates positive relationships with the students. During breakfast and lunch she moves about the cafeteria to visit with our kids and see how they are doing. She receives lots of hugs and smiles. The kids and staff at Northeast love Chef Amy!”

~ Honored by Catherine Gundersen, Principal; Kearney Public Schools, Northeast Elementary

“Dorothy has been flexible and creative in her menu planning with some of the shortages that have occurred this year. Dorothy is always willing to help us plan for special events for our students and serves the staff and students with a kind smile and something nice to share to build relationships. Dorothy helps us all feel full and happy in the kitchen and lunch room.”

~ Honored by Brandi Settje, Counselor; Laurel Concord Coleridge Public School

“Mindy always has a positive attitude and smile on her face as kids go through the line. She does a great job building relationships with students and always goes above and beyond to decorate the lunch room for holidays, shares nutritional information and easy to work with. She works hard and is proud to serve our staff and students on the daily. LCC middle school loves Mindy!”

~ Honored by Brandi Settje, Counselor; Laurel Concord Coleridge Public School

“In his first year of this demanding role, Andrew has fought through supply chain issues and unprecedented staffing challenges with a smile on his face and a continued spirit of collaboration. He is a joy to work with and is doing a great job.”

~ Honored by Michelle Welch, District Wellness Facilitator and RD; Lincoln Public Schools

“Lynn does a great job of working with families whose students have special nutrition needs and often serious food allergies. She brings a sense of calm and caring to families who are facing special challenges with meeting their children’s nutrition needs. She goes the extra mile to help students be able to join their friends in enjoying a school lunch and taking the stress off of parents who no longer have to worry about packing a lunch for their child so that they can be safe eating school.”

~ Honored by Michelle Welch, District Wellness Facilitator and RD; Lincoln Public Schools

“Aubrey works so hard to feed the students and staff delicious food while adhering to all food and safety guidelines. Everyone loves working with her and she is a tremendous blessing to our school! We love Chef Aubrey!!!!”

~ Honored by Kristine Placek, Principal; Diocese of Lincoln Schools, St Patrick School

“Deidra has the biggest heart and the smile to match of anyone I know at our school. She goes above and beyond to make sure the students and staff have nutritious meals and enjoy eating at school! With COVID, staffing changes, food shortages, truck delays she seems to get everything done with a smile!”

~ Honored by Liesa Miller, School Nurse; Logan View Public Schools

“Bonnie has been amazing working with a shortage of staff and making everything happen, no matter what! Delivery trucks at 4:00am – no problem. No kitchen staff today – we’ll make it work. Why didn’t the Math Club let me know they were gone today…we’ll work on communication. Hard work and a passion for kids is a powerful combination and Bonnie possesses it! We’re lucky!”

~ Honored by Dean Tickle, Superintendent; Loup City Public Schools

“It seems that there has been a constant over the past few years–school lunches. You have delivered them on the cold, snow-driven days and the consistency in which meals have been prepared for our students has been a rock over the pandemic. Thanks to you for all that you do for the students and staff in our district.”

~ Honored by Rocky Robbins, Superintendent; Minatare Public Schools

“This group of ladies and Shelia have done an amazing job over the years, but especially over the last two year. They show up everyday, take care of our kids, and our families. Without them our lunch program and summer lunch program would not be possible.”

~ Honored by James Widdifield, Superintendent; Minden Public Schools

“Ranessa continues to seek ideas from students about what they would like to eat. She is a hero because she makes many homemade meals when it would be very easy to buy premade items off the truck. Ranessa also knows every student by name.”

~ Honored by Margaret Sandoz, Superintendent; Niobrara Public Schools

“It’s been a challenge this year to receive food in a timely manner and have enough people on staff to operate our lunch program. The NBC lunch staff has worked as a team to make sure our students and staff receive a delicious meal each day. I’m thankful and proud that they work at North Bend Central!”

~ Honored by Dan Endorf, Superintendent; North Bend Central Public School

“She’s always very nice to all of the students. She makes sure the kids that have special instruction get the proper food in the mornings and at lunch. She has a relationship with the students that is very friendly. They all like Ms. Bev!”

~ Honored by Jenni Preece, Secretary; North Platte Public Schools, Lake Maloney Elementary

“Becky works hard to make sure supplies, staff and service meets expectations. She arrives early and stays late to make sure everything runs smoothly. I have seen her wet top to bottom from cleaning up burst pipes and still smiling. We are blessed at Adams Middle School to have her in our building. Thank you Becky!”

~ Honored by Corene Richards, Paraprofessional; North Platte Public Schools, Adams Middle School

“Diane is in charge of a large district with ten schools to organize and prepare meals for every weekday. She does it with a smile!”

~ Honored by Connie Thompson, District Registrar; North Platte Public Schools

“Diane works hard every day to provide tasty, nutritional food for our students despite them many difficulties of limited supplies and the scarcity of staff. She is continuously making adjustments at the district level to minimize the affects at the school level.”

~ Honored by Harmoni Wagner, Administrator; North Platte Public Schools

“Vicky knows the students at Washington Elementary and greets them as they get their lunch each day. Vicky has been a dependable, constant in our building when staffing is short and changing frequently. She is flexible when changes in the menu, supplies and staffing arise.”
~ Honored by Harmoni Wagner, Administrator; North Platte Public Schools

“The entire Nutrition Services team goes ‘over and above’ every day. They are a dedicated group of individuals who provided meals throughout a pandemic, in the classroom, in the cafeteria, and even curbside. Anywhere the meals need to be served – rain or snow. The teams are flexible with late menu changes and support each other especially when short staffed. Most of all, they support the students by providing smiles and a positive attitude in a caring manner. We so appreciate the work they do every day – they are truly School Nutrition Heroes!”

~ Honored by Tammy Yarmon, Director, Omaha Public Schools

“Bernie greets the students every day with a smile and a joke, and notices students who need extra help in the breakfast line.”

~ Honored by Elena O’Connell, Social Worker; Omaha Public Schools, Central Park Elementary

“Jimery does a wonderful job managing the nutrition needs of our students, always has a smile on her face, and has helped to coordinate resources for students and families to address food insecurity.”

~ Honored by Elena O’Connell, Social Worker; Omaha Public Schools, Central Park Elementary

“Tamra greets students with a smile every morning and makes them feel cared for and welcome. “

~ Honored by Elena O’Connell, Social Worker; Omaha Public Schools, Central Park Elementary

“Ms Nikki is so good with the kids. She knows their names, likes/dislikes, allergy information, etc. My four boys all think she is “really nice.”. We appreciate her commitment to all the students!”

~ Honored by Sarah McClintock, Parent; Omaha Public Schools, Picotte Elementary

“Brenda is always making our school a home for students to eat and enjoy. She has taken the lead on even beginning a Farm to School program in our cafeteria to bring local, fresh food for our students to try. She is always ready to greet you with a smile, and never turns away a hungry child. She is the heart of the cafeteria in our school and we are so glad she is an Overton Eagle!”

~ Honored by Julie Loudon, Teacher; Overton Public School

“Brenda goes above and beyond for the kids of Overton! The summer meals program is fantastic, and the amount of choice she gives kids during the school year is phenomenal for our sized school. Brenda goes out of her way to make each student feel special and welcome. Whenever I need something for class, she does everything she can to make it happen. We are so blessed to have someone who cares so much for all of us!”

~ Honored by Ashley Wyatt, Teacher; Overton Public School

“Patty goes above and beyond to make sure that all of our three kitchens are staffed and stocked and running smoothly. She spends countless hours and energies to make the system better for our kids and staff.”

~ Honored by Lynn Johnson, Superintendent; Raymond Central Public Schools

“Becky takes her job very seriously. She does all in her power to provide nutritious meals for our students. Becky is a true professional and is a hero working through all the pressures of COVID and never missing a day to provide meals.”

~ Honored by Joe Peitzmeier, Superintendent; Scriber-Snyder Community Schools

“Jen Messersmith has worked tirelessly for many years at Seward Public Schools to ensure all students have access to high-quality, healthy meals. Her ability to manage staff, prepare multiple menus, order food, complete financials and serve food is to be commended. I often tell her she is doing the work of 4-5 people. Our students and staff have been blessed to have Mrs. Messersmith managing our food service program.”

~ Honored by Matt Dominy, Director of Curriculum and Food Service HR Support; Seward Public Schools

“As a mom who wants nothing to do with making my kid’s lunch every day…any day…I appreciate that you have fed my kids for the past 14 years. Thank God for the “lunch ladies” of the world.”

~ Honored by Carrie Bischoff, Parent; Syracuse Dunbar Avoca Public Schools

“Judy has worked short handed this year and last, but that does not take away her smile for the students she serves! She always has a kind word to say to them.”

~ Honored by Deb Daum, Administrator Assistant, Wayne Public Schools