Congratulations to our 2023 School Nutrition Heroes!

Becky Croghan, Dani Arduser, Donna Oestreich, Lunch Supervisor and 7-12 Cooks

“Battle Creek Jr-Sr High School is so fortunate to have these three ladies serving our students lunch daily. The effort they put into making the best lunches possible is very much appreciated by our staff and students. The hot roast beefs, homemade gravy, potatoes and a freshly made salads is just one example of what our students at Battle Creek are treated to daily. And lets not forget the Yogurt Parfait for desert.”

– Honored by Jeff Heimes, 7-12 Principal, Battle Creek Public Schools

“Shauna and her staff do a great job of preparing meals for all of our students. Whether it has been preparing meals during a power outage, improvising when supplies are out of stock, making sack lunches for students attending activities, or working extended hours in the summer for our summer enrichment program, Shauna is always willing to take on the challenge and provide for our students and staff. We are lucky to have her and the rest of her staff at B-R.”

– Honored by Kyle Elsasser, Principal, Bancroft-Rosalie Public Schools

Susan Schnelker, Kitchen Manager, Mison Smith, Kitchen Assistant Mariah Sharbono, Cashier

“Each of the honorees are constantly handling the hustle and bustle of our school’s kitchen with such grace. The hard work and dedication that is observed daily is observed by students and staff of our building. Their positive attitudes, strong work ethic, and willingness to go above and beyond in their duties have made a significant impact on our students, staff, and parents alike. The unwavering commitment to excellence is truly admirable, and we are fortunate to have them on our team.”

– Honored by Jessica Loghry, Principal, Bellevue Public Schools

Glori Wagner, Food Service Manager

“Glori works hard to build relationships with students and is constantly finding ways to praise and encourage them! She has a can do attitude, strives to find ways to make things better and is a great leader! Wake Robin Elementary appreciates all that she does for our students and staff!”

– Honored by Traci Costlow, Principal, Bellevue Public Schools

“Mary Lou makes lunch time fun for the kids by decorating and dressing up on special occasions. She greets the students with a smile and is always flexible in working with schedule changes!”

– Honored by Lori Toepfer, Elementary Principal, Blue Hill Community Schools

“Our entire team is a Nebraska school nutrition hero. They keep a positive attitude and take pride in providing healthy and delicious meals to our students. During the pandemic, they stepped up and provided meals for our students while we were remote learning serving thousands and thousands of sacked meals over a few short months. Today, these ladies continue the tradition of a great lunch program here at Boone Central. They are to be commended for their hard work, dedication, and care in the way they serve our staff and students! I am proud to work alongside each one of them!”

– Honored by Bill Curry, Middle School Principal, Boone Central Public Schools

“Mrs. Kathy Beckman, our Breakfast and Lunch Coordinator, has done a phenomenal job of providing excellent food service for our K-12 students and staff. She provides a quality menu that children truly enjoy. The main entree is followed up with a fresh fruit and soup/salad bar. If a student prefers a sandwich instead of the main menu, she/he can choose to select a prepared sandwich and salad bar from the cooler in addition to the salad bar. Students particularly enjoy their daily fresh oven-baked breads! The mouth- watering aroma of the breads throughout the school make it very difficult to wait until lunch arrives. One also notices the array of signs and décor that Mrs. Beckman and her staff of 7 arduously put out for various events and occasions. We are so very fortunate to have our excellent Food Service Personnel at Boone Central Schools. Their efforts are appreciated by 175 hungry children who eat breakfast and approximately 595 students who enjoy lunch. We truly have one of the best Food and Nutrition Programs in Nebraska!”

– Honored by William Kuester, Interim Superintendent, Boone Central Schools

“Donita is always smiling and always happy to serve our students and staff of Burwell. She works hard to make sure that our meals are delicious and nutritious.” 

– Honored by Kyle Drake, Elementary Principal, Burwell Public Schools

“Michele does a great job as kitchen manager. She works very hard in what sometimes can feel like a thankless job. I want her to know we do notice all the great things she and the whole kitchen staff do for our students and staff. We appreciate you!”

– Honored by Dale Maynard, Superintendent, Burwell Public Schools

“They strive daily to provide a positive breakfast and lunch environment for our kids!”

– Honored by Adam Stolzer, 7-12 Principal, Burwell Public Schools

“Donita is always smiling and always happy to serve our students and staff of Burwell. She works hard to make sure that our meals are delicious and nutritious.” 

– Honored by Kyle Drake, Elementary Principal, Burwell Public Schools

“Michelle goes above and beyond everyday to meet the needs of our kids.”

– Honored by Bryon Hanson, Superintendent, Callaway Public Schools

“We are blessed at CPS to have well-prepared, hearty and tasty lunches at CPS. Our staff provides a great entree, as well as, a salad bar and a soup option. Our students and staff are well taken care by our team in the kitchen!”

– Honored by Jarod Albers, Principal, Cambridge Public School

“Rose has been with our district for a number of years. She is hard working and contentious. Rose has always made our lunches nutritious and delicious. I appreciate all of her hard work and willingness to please.”

– Honored by Todd Beck, Principal, Central Valley Public Schools

“She has shown a great amount of passion for her students at Emerson. She goes above and beyond to make sure each student has good quality meals and options. When there is a change in menus she is very acceptable of the change and carries it out to the best of her ability for her students. Celia loves to decorate and participate in the activity that we have in our department. She has no problem dressing up for the students, coming in early to make desserts or staying late. She greets the kids with a warm smile each morning and gives the children at Emerson her best every day.”

– Honored by Christina Nielsen, Food Service Director, Columbus Public Schools

“Karen is a consistent person in the kitchen at North Park. She shows up every day with a smile, greets the students as they go through the line, serves the food quickly to get the students plenty of time to eat. She has had many different people work with her over the years and always gets along with whoever is in the kitchen with her. She is very friendly to everybody. She helps add some cheer to the dining area with cute holiday decorations and decor as well.”

– Honored by Trina Gentile, School Counselor, Columbus Public Schools

“Amney Peters is a wonderful staff member who goes out of her way to make great meals and celebrate special occasions, such as holidays or Dr. Seuss week. She makes extra special meals for the staff for the evening of parent-teacher conferences. Amney is a giving person who takes pride in her work!”

– Honored by Amy Hostetler, PK-12 Principal, Creek Valley Public Schools

“Terry always has a friendly face and a smile that welcomes all into the kitchen. She works with the head cook to make great meals and is a team player.”

– Honored by Amy Hostetler, PK-12 Principal, Creek Valley Public Schools

“Patty is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero for D-T because there is no one that puts move love, care, and attention to serving and providing the highest quality meals for our students. She is here all the time, seeks to care for kids and staff, and will continue to do so for as long as she can. Her reputation of care and concern proceeds her and will be her legacy!”

– Honored by Jeremy Braden, Superintendent, Doniphan-Trumbull Public School

“Amanda provides a nutritious menu daily. She has created a food program that is appealing and great tasting yet is budget friendly to families. She cares about students and staff! + Positive, caring attitude displayed daily with those she interacts with.

+ Stays calm even during stressful situations.

+ Great rapport with students, staff, parents, and patrons.

+ Team-player.

+ Shows pride in her work.

+ Willingness to assist students and staff.

+ Pleasant personality and smile displayed to those she interacts with daily.”

— Honored by Daryl Schrunk, Superintendent, Dorchester Public Schools

“Mrs. Gooder has done a tremendous job with the school lunches this year. The students really enjoy eating the tasty meals the cooks serve. She has gone above her duties to make sure every student gets enough to eat! Job well done!!!”

– Honored by Kristian K. Freeland, Elementary Principal, Dundy County Stratton Schools

“Judy is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero because she works hard to ensure that our students have nutritious meals and lots of variety. We often throw different lunch schedules her way due to pep rallies, early outs, and special occasions, yet she handles the changes with ease. We are lucky to have Judy and her staff at Sacred Heart.”

– Honored by Jenny Dunn, Principal, Falls City Sacred Heart

“These three ladies are full of joy, smiles, & happiness for our kiddos at school. They are patient, kind & really helpful. They make Breakfast & Lunch at our school a happy time for our students & staff. They create a beautiful bar of fresh fruits, veggies, yogurts, cheese sticks, salads for lots of fresh healthy choices each day. They also make/bake special treats for our students (Valentines day, other special holidays, fun fruity salads). They are the best!”

– Honored by Susan Farkas, Principal, Freemont Public Schools

“Angela has been a huge blessing at Northfield. She works hard to prepare delicious food and greets all students with a smile. She goes above and beyond to involve incentives into the lunch program, and is intentional about building relationships with students. We are so grateful for her food and her smile!”

– Honored by John Wiedeman, Principal, Gering Public Schools

“Kimberly and Devin are True Nebraska School Nutrition Hero’s. They are an amazing component to our team at Rushville Elementary School. They make sure that our kids follow the Federal Guidelines for vegetables/fruits and main meal. They are always smiling, pleasant and respectful to our students, which our students recognize. They go far and beyond for our students every day, making sure food is prepared and ready to serve, while at the same time, keeping the kitchen facility spotless. We love them!”

– Honored by Keith Mills, Principal, Gordon-Rushville Public Schools

“Kim puts her heart and soul into our lunch program. She makes everything from scratch, including the sauces. She knows every kid and checks to see if they are ok. Kim makes sure that the meals are tasty but still meet the nutritional standards that are required. She loves to hear input from the students and staff and is always open to make improvements. She makes a tremendous impact on our community through her work despite being on a tight budget. We are so lucky to have her.”

– Honored by Dennis Dolezal, Middle School Principal, Gordon-Rushville Public Schools

“Mrs. Char is a great advocate for fun and education in the lunchroom. She brings such joy to all of the students and staff at Harvest Hills Elementary. Mrs. Char works diligently to provide a welcoming environment that not only teaches staff and students the importance of nutrition and balance but also where our food items come from. Char takes on every challenge that presents itself with a smile and a laugh. We are beyond blessed to have her at Harvest Hills!”

– Honored by Kirsten Troester, Principal, Gretna Public Schools

“Patty is very hard working and so are the rest of the cooks in our kitchen. They present food that tastes great and looks awesome. There are numerous options and choices for our students. The staff does an amazing job of serving our kids in a patient, friendly and speedy way. Our kids look forward to school lunch! Thank you Patty, Debbie, Lexi, Tiffany, Julie and Sue Mai”

– Honored by Stacey Deterding, Principal, Gretna Public Schools

“Mrs. Sue goes above and beyond to recognize students and staff in the lunchroom. She is always willing to share a smile and is a great team player.”

– Honored by Karen Naylor, Principal, Gretna Public Schools

“Lisa McNish & Misty Mooney are Nebraska School Nutrition Heroes because they both come to school everyday with a smile on their face ready to make the students’ day as they serve breakfast and lunch. They also go above and beyond to incorporate locally raised beef into their meals to support the Hawk Beef Booster program. Lisa & Misty are great examples of what it means to have Hawk Pride at Hampton Public School!”

– Honored by Holly Herzberg, Superintendent, Hampton Public School

“Betty is very passionate about serving the students a nice variety. She incorporates local foods and fun promotions. No matter the obstacle Betty thinks positively and finds a way to feed the students good quality, nourishing food.”

– Honored by Kristi Oksendahl, Area Director, Hastings Public Schools

“Jo works tirelessly to ensure healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks for both JCC sites! She also coordinates the summer breakfast and lunch programs for our communities. Jo does a wonderful job of working with staff and students often stating that they are our customers and we want them to be pleased with the product. She is a very dependable, enjoyable person to have as part of our school family! She works hard and has fun while doing so!”

– Honored by Jon Rother, Superintendent, Johnson County Central Public Schools

“The Kenesaw Kitchen Staff, Amy, Mary, Michelle, & Stephanie, are the epitome of support and love and everything a school could possibly hope for in any of its staff. The four of them not only provide delicious and nutritious meals for over 350 students and staff members, they also greet everyone with a smile, a joke, a hug, or a sound piece of advice. I begin every morning with a pass by the kitchen for no other reason than I know I am going to start my day off right with a “good morning” from them and reassurance that our kids are going to be loved and taken care of. I am beyond honored to share this profession with these ladies and so very blessed they are a part of not only my job, but also my life.”

– Honored by Nicole LeClaire, 7-12 Principal, Kenesaw Public Schools

“Jenny Sloup and her staff are School Nutrition Heros. Jenny does a fantastic job of providing nutritious meals for our students and staff. She is always trying something new to make sure the students and staff are satisfied. She does a tremendous job of finding staff that are positive and really help create a positive environment for lunch.”

– Honored by Steve Borer, Principal, Lakeview Community Schools

“Penny and Chris are both dedicated to providing a wholesome meal each and every day. The bread made from scratch daily is enjoyed by all. Thank you both and your staff for your dedication and hard work. It’s appreciated.”

– Honored by Kevin Thomas, High School Principal, Leyton Public School

“These ladies are a solid team that serve our school with a smile and positive attitude each day. They accommodate student choice and needs and make our lunchroom a happy place to be! They partner with our entire staff to ensure student needs are always at the center (field trip, picnic days, special events).” 

– Honored by Amy Clark, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Chris is an incredibly positive person, and she makes all students feel welcome in the cafeteria. Students who struggle with anxiety or students who need a little extra to eat all feel comfortable in Chris’s space. She decorates for holidays, greets everyone, and participates in spirit days. Plus, Chris is meticulous in her work, making sure our food is delicious and safe. Thank you, Chris!”

– Honored by Denise Craig, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Cindy is so cheerful with our students. She always smiles, is kind, and never makes any student go hungry. She will often spend her own money to help our students. She is a sweet soul and brightens our day at Northwest!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Cindy has serviced our school district for the last 25 years! Her smile is contagious and always brightens the day of our students! Her patience with our kids a real gift! She is one of a kind!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Cory is cooks fantastic meals everyday for our school! The students are always excited to eat breakfast and lunch every day!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Ericka is the captain of our ship. Her enthusiasm and ability to bring cohesiveness to a team to help serve students and staff are second to none. She’s always having fun while decorating our kitchen for the students! She has been a joy to be around!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Kelly is so much fun to have in our kitchen working around our students. She always provides a helping hand and quickly gets food out so students can eat! We love having her work around our students at Northwest.”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Lois brings a bright smile every day with our students. She is so patient, caring, and kind to all students. It makes for an easy day with her presence!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Tanyia is a joy to be around. She has a lot of fun working in the cafeteria and being around the students. There have been times when she is even dancing to music while working and having a great time with our students. She always does her job with a smile!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Steph is so dependable for us at Northwest. Her calm demeanor around our students makes it easy to service everyone. She is a joy to be around and always so positive daily!”

– Honored by Cedric Cooper, Principal, Lincoln Public Schools

“Trudy is amazing! She arrives at our special-needs school before sun-up every morning, rain or shine, and goes above and beyond the call of duty. Her meals are delicious, with so many wonderful, healthy choices. I have yet to taste anything she makes that I don’t like! She knows each of our students’ needs, likes, and dislikes, and is so accommodating to them, especially our students on the spectrum. She makes sure that everyone has plenty to eat. Trudy is one of the hardest workers that I have ever met. She is always cheerful, calm and just takes everything in stride. Trudy has great rapport with students and staff alike. She is a tremendous blessing to our school!”

– Honored by Sr. Jeanette Rerucha, Principal, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln

“Trudy Lee is a wonderful cook who makes sure all of the students are fed nutritious lunches. We are a school for special needs students. Some have autism, some have learning problems and some behavior problems. Trudy always remembers who likes what food. She is an excellent problem solver who comes up with compromises to avoid conflicts. We are so grateful to have her.”

– Honored by Dianne Kalita, Office Manager, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln

“Donna and Bethany go above and beyond to ensure each student feels special during their time at lunch. Students and staff are met with a friendly smile and a heart of service. While being short staffed, we need to rely on subs that help support their work – so they are special to us as well!”

– Honored by Mark L’Hereux, Director of Schools, Christ Lincoln Schools

“Silver is GOLD in the kitchen at Loomis Public School! She is very well known by our students and staff, and she goes above and beyond her duties here at Loomis.”

– Honored by Sam Dunn, Superintendent, Loomis Public School

“Lorri does an outstanding job running our food service and keeping our students and their needs at the forefront of her decision making. She has done an outstanding job of find new and exciting ways to create and implement new items for our students. MJPS is very fortunate to have someone like Lorri Rea running our food service.”

– Honored by Dade McDonald, Superintendent, McCool Junction Public School

“Brenda is not only a great employee in our lunchroom, she is so kind-hearted and always wants what is best for others. Brenda serves students each day with a positive attitude and makes sure they have enough to eat. We are glad to have Brenda as an Abbott Gator! #GoGoGators”

– Honored by Meredith Buckman, Principal, Millard Public Schools

“Connie is the absolute BEST kitchen manager around. Her kindness and smile fill our entire lunchroom and kitchen. She cares about students as if they were her own and goes above and beyond every single day to make sure they are happy and fed. Connie also does this for her staff family – we know how extremely lucky we are to have her at Abbott! She is a fabulous leader! #GoGoGators”

– Honored by Meredith Buckman, Principal, Millard Public Schools

“The kitchen staff at Holling Heights is incredible. They know all of the students’ names and are very deliberate about engaging in positive conversation with them. Dave, Alison, and Sandy go above and beyond with meeting the needs of our diverse cliental and always do so with a smile. The kitchen staff sets clear and fair boundaries for our students that teach responsibility. Holling Heights is very grateful to have such a caring, kind, and dedicated kitchen staff. Thank you Dave, Sandy, and Alison for your selfless service to Holling Heights!”

– Honored by Alan Sarka, Admin Intern, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette is such a hero at our school! Nanette cares so deeply for not only our students but also our staff. All schools in our district serve breakfast and lunch, but what makes Nanette stand out is her caring attitude for each and every student. It doesn’t matter if students/staff forgot their lunch, arrive to school late, we all know that Nanette is there to make sure no one goes hungry. When we have special school-wide events, Nanette has been so open to taking part in the event. She is truly our Nebraska School Nutrition Hero!”

– Honored by Lynette Wieger, Teacher Librarian, Millard Public Schools

“Both of our kitchen staff, Nanette and Susan, are bright and cheery members of the Hitchcock community. They great each student and staff member with smiles and always do their best to accommodate everyone’s lunch choices, even if they are late or forgot to order. I cannot say I have ever, in my nearly 30 years in education, worked alongside such positive and pleasant support staff. They both truly are such valued members of our team, as students and staff who are hungry certainly cannot learn and do their best. Thanks, ladies!”

– Honored by Mandy Hartz, Principal, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette and Sue are people I look forward to seeing at work everyday! They are friendly, personable, and truly care about doing great work. They take pride in their work, and really focus on making the kitchen an inviting place and presentation. They greet students by their name, get to know them, and are helpful and kind when students need help. You can see them decorating the lunchroom doors for the season, wearing spirit wear to celebrate fun days, and honoring other staff during recognition days. Nanette and Sue are people that make Hitchcock a fun place to work and are outstanding assets to our school.”

– Honored by Amy Goetz, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette & Susan are always cheerful and kind to each student. They are wonderful to work with and always doing their best for students.”

– Honored by Marjorie Piatkowski, Secretary, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette is so caring, welcoming and helpful in every way! My students are always excited to see her because she always goes the extra mile to ensure they receive their lunch and know that someone at school cares about them.”

– Honored by Ally Logan, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero because she is so kind, knows all of the kids names and reminds me to sign up for my lunch when I forget! She always makes sure everyone has enough to eat! I look forward to school lunch every day because of her!”

– Honored by Elace Pontiero, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Ms. Nanette and Ms. Sue always serve our students with a happy face and are more than willing to make accommodations if students their forget lunch or make the wrong choice. I appreciate watching them greet each of my first graders by name. They are the BEST!” 

– Honored by Megan Lawson (Eckley), Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Nanette and Susan are Nebraska School Nutrition Heroes because of their warm, smiling faces every time someone walks through their door. They both go out of their way to greet each student and have meaningful conversations with everyone. They make students feel welcome and important. Thank you for everything that you do for us at Hitchcock!”

– Honored by Megan Hanson, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Susan is so friendly and approachable. She knows all of my students’ names and always smiles and jokes with them while serving them lunch.”

– Honored by Ally Logan, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Sue is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero because she knows every student by name, comes out to talk to and check on the students when she is done serving, keeps the salad bar stocked and knows what the students like to eat! Thank you!”

– Honored by Elace Pontiero, Teacher, Millard Public Schools

“Michelle comes to work with a smile on her face every day! We are so thankful to have her at Abbott! She makes sure students receive what they need, and is ALWAYS willing to step-up and support whatever role is needed in the lunchroom. We appreciate you, Michelle! #GoGoGators”

– Honored by Meredith Buckman, Principal, Millard Public Schools

“Our team here at Neihardt works hard to provide nutritious breakfast and lunch to over 550 students each day. Their positive and friendly demeanor creates a welcoming environment for students and staff.”

– Honored by Brad Sullivan, Principal, Millard Public Schools

“Always a smile and a kind word to students and staff. Eager to try new things and is open to suggestions. Food is delicious, nutritious and pleasant to look at.”

– Honored by Dee, Secretary, Niobrara Public Schools

“Deb and her team prepare wonderful meals daily. They are flexible with our schedule and serving times. She always wears a smile and prepares the best salad bar ever!”

– Honored by Amy Watter, 7-12 Principal, Norfolk Catholic School

“Every day they prepare a nutritious meal for our students and staff. The salad bar is the best! This lunch team is always flexible and creative for our school schedules. The are accommodating and truly serve others.”

– Honored by Amy Wattier, 7-12 Principal, Norfolk Catholic High School

“It is my privilege to nominate Gina for this award. Gina has been serving the students of Norfolk Public Schools for over 30 years. Through those years, Gina has seen and been a part of many changes in the feeding of students but through it all Gina’s main objective is the needs of the students. Gina loves the students. Her joy in taking care of the students is unbelievable. We truly appreciate her kindness and service.”

– Honored by Tracy J. Shuck, Food Service Director, Norfolk Public Schools

“Joyce makes sure that our students start off each day with a healthy breakfast and refuels our kiddos at lunchtime. She ensures that these meals are nutritious, and she plans for the unique dietary needs of individual students. She truly cares about students and their well being. She is kind and friendly to each student, and we truly appreciate all that she does to make our lunch program awesome!”

– Honored by Amy Brown, Principal, Norfolk Public Schools

“Monica goes above and beyond the call of duty. She gets to know our students on a personal level and will have conversations with them daily. Monica makes the day brighter for everyone she comes into contact with. She knows what our students like and don’t like to eat, as well as any dietary restrictions they may have. She has a fast and efficient system set up to get 215 students through our lunch lines in the span of 1 hour. Any concerns Monica may have for students or the lunch routine, she shares with teachers or administration in a professional manner. We could not ask for a better person to work with our students.”

– Honored by Tracy Lichty, Principal, Norfolk Public Schools

“Reva always greets students with a smile. She is the first one in line everyday and works to greet students with a welcoming tone in a field that can be busy and demanding. Ms. Burger also is quick to find students and staff on a regular basis to thank them for making the lunchroom a better place. She is kind, demonstrates excellent work ethic, and treats people the way that she wants to also be treated.”

– Honored by Michelle Burton, 7-12 Principal, Oakland-Craig Public Schools

“Mrs. Threats is a Nebraska School Nutrition Hero because she ensures our students get fed breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack every day. Some schools have many people to help with this, but at our school, Mrs. Threats tackles this great feat solo! Mrs. Threats does a great job of holding our students accountable to school expectations and helps them practice their manners every day. Thank you, Mrs. Threats, for all the work that you do for our students and school!”

– Honored by Chrissy Clay, Teacher, Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools

“Ms. Threats is amazing at her job. The food is always prepared and ready to go for our students. She makes sure every student has the opportunity to have a well balanced meal, so they can be the best student they can be in the classroom. Ms. Threats doesn’t ask for recognition, but our school does not function at it’s best without her on staff.”

– Honored by Robert Clay, Teacher, Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools

“The restaurant quality of the food at Duchesne’s lunch program is due to the care and management of Joel and Tyree. Meals like honey pepper salmon with béarnaise sauce and wild rice pilaf get eagerly devoured by students and staff alike. In fact, the salmon dish was mentioned by every staff member. The students were all sending photos of the salmon to their moms. If the way to a person’s heart is through her stomach, then Joel and Tyree have earned a big part of the heart of the Duchesne community!”

– Honored by Laura Hickman, Principal, Duchesne Academy, Omaha

“Nancy leads the kindest and most welcoming cafeteria staff. She is always willing to help and always has a smile on her face. Her staff are so welcoming to our students, and they are so helpful. Our lunch times are so great because of the impact of Nancy and her department!”

– Honored by Carrie Carr, Principal, Omaha Public Schools

“Teresa is known to have a positive attitude and is a great team player. She works closely with staff members to create a welcoming environment for students in the cafeteria. When it comes to bringing new items to the lunch menu, she engages her young “customers” for guidance and what to bring back to Lothrop.”

– Honored by Janeen Mann, Principal, Omaha Public Schools

“Our cafeteria staff are second to none. They are consistent with attendance, put a personalized touch to the food they serve our 1000 students and staff, help students learn social skills, hold our students accountable for their actions while in their area, and collaborate with teachers and administrators to support our buildings’ daily nutritional needs and staff meals and special events. We could not do “school” without these amazing staff!!!”

– Honored by Dr. Andrew Walters, Principal, Omaha Public Schools

“Ms. Sam goes above and beyond her role as a Cafeteria Manager. During lunch she is at the tables building relationships with students and she works at our after school program with our students. She knows our students! The cafeteria runs smoothly under her watch.”

– Honored by Kimberly Jones, Principal, Omaha Public Schools

“Emily, Kris, and Jackie work hard every day to provide amazing food and a safe learning environment throughout our lunch room. Our kids learn manners, respect, and the value of eating lunch as a Chanticleer family every day.”

– Honored by Doug Smith, Elementary Principal, Ord Public Schools

“Jamie does an outstanding job running our kitchen at PLSHS. She is kind, flexible, and always wants to do what is best for students. We greatly appreciate all she does and we are incredibly lucky to have her at South.”

– Honored by Jeff Spilker, Principal, Papillion LaVista Community Schools

“Marlene is a friendly face for all of the students and staff at PLSHS. She somehow manages to memorize all of the students names and personally greets them as they walk up to pay. We can’t thank her enough for all that she does for our school. “

– Honored by Brent Gehring, Assistant Principal, Papillion LaVista Community Schools

“Natalie is someone who deeply cares about our students. She is flexible when students need to change lunch choices, and she works to help them develop skills for using manners. The students adore Ms. Kuehn, and this is because of the work she puts into relationship building with the students. As a principal, I am grateful for her can-do attitude with all things that come up #CougarProud!”

– Honored by Seth Hiveley, Principal, Papillion LaVista Community Schools

“Pam goes out of her way to help make our special events even more special! It might be cupcakes to celebrate Read Across America or sack lunches during our annual science day. She goes out of her way to make our school lunch awesome! Thanks to Pam and her crew!”

– Honored by Kelly Ballinger, Elementary Principal, Pender Public Schools

“Patty goes above and beyond to make sure that our kitchens are prepared and functioning well so that our students have the best meals possible. She works into the evenings and weekends planning and preparing for all three kitchens in our District.”

– Honored by Lynn Johnson, Superintendent, Raymond Central Public School

“Mellissa is a great addition to our school. She works hard to create a relationship with every student. This year she had the kids fill out a wish list and she has tried to make every dish they requested. As a result we have added some very tasty entrees to our school lunch menu.”

– Honored by J.D. Furrow, Superintendent, Sandhills Public Schools

“Our “Kitchen Krew” goes out of their way to provide us with nutritious yet good tasting meals served with a smile. Thank you ladies it is very appreciated!”

– Honored by Cory Grint, Principal, Sargent Public Schools

“Sherri Sobota is a rock star! She is extremely positive each day and makes great relationships with the students. She is passionate about ensuring that students get quality meals each day. Her hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed by anyone in our school.”

– Honored by Alicia Keairnes, Principal, Schuyler Community Schools

“Our staff brings great energy and great food to our lunchroom!”

– Honored by Greg, Principal, Shickley Public School

“Lauri and Lori are amazing! They go over and above each and every day to feed out students. In addition to the main menu items, they have an amazing salad bar each day. The students love the choices that they have every time they eat lunch. Lauri and Lori also are willing to switch lunches around, and they give the students an opportunity to vote for their favorites and incorporate those throughout the month. We are blessed to have them.”

– Honored by Amy Sokol, Principal, St. Anthony School

“Mia and all the lunch crew do such a great job of getting my kids to eat what we couldn’t even get them to try! The boys are always coming up with something funny she did and it brightens their day”

– Honored by Sarah Leo, Parent, St. Paul Public Schools

“The St. Paul lunch staff are the most positive group of women…willing to do whatever they can to make the school cafeteria fun, welcoming, and organized. Elementary students especially, look forward to going through the lunch line on holidays and during school celebration days because the lunch staff are dressed in costume! They are friendly to every age of person going through the line, from kindergarten students to elderly volunteers. They work hard to make their environment positive. In addition, I’ve noticed that they create individual relationships with a number of students…students in need of connection. Finally, I really appreciate that they help our students learn and maintain appropriate manners. They expect to hear please and thank you from our students… reinforcing teachers’ efforts within the classrooms.”

– Honored by Jen Hagen, Secondary Principal, St. Paul Public Schools

“Our staff is always kind to ALL of our students. They take time to interact with them and make each student feel special!”

– Honored by Alex Egger, Elementary Principal, St. Paul Public Schools

“Gale and Stephanie make a great team. Together they come up with great menu items and different ways to eat foods that kids may not always like. They welcome everyone with a smile and fill our hungry bellies with great food. We are blessed to have them at St. Patrick School.” 

– Honored by Becky Redl, Principal, St. Patrick School

“We love our school nutrition staff. They work hard to provide our students with a healthy meal and a positive atmosphere.”

– Honored by Marty Kobza, Superintendent, Superior Public Schools

“Dave was an amazing worker and person. He had an incredible work ethic and was very kind to coworkers, staff, and students. He loved his grandchildren, whom he saw every day very much. He will be missed. Unfortunately, cancer took him from us much too soon, but in his time serving at school, he made an indelible impact on all of us.”

– Honored by Matt Farup, Superintendent, Wakefield Community Schools

“David always goes above and beyond with his meal program. The staff makes heart shaped corn dogs for Valentines, Green Eggs and Ham for Dr. Seuss week, and many other things that take additional time but mean the world to the kids!”

– Honored by Seth Sackmann, Elementary Principal, Walthill Public Schools

“I would like to thank and honor the WPS Nutrition Team/Heroes for all their hard work and dedication. Despite all obstacles, our team is flexible and supports one another daily while providing our students with healthy, delicious meals with a big smile and a positive attitude. I am thankful and proud to be a part of the WPS Nutrition Team/Heroes.”

– Honored by David Pan, Nutrition Manager, Walthill Public Schools

“Judy has a smile for everyone. She and her staff make homemade rolls for the students each day. Not only does this help stretch the budget, but they are nutritious and delicious and keep the students filled up. She and her team have fun ways like, bulletin boards, voting and contests to showcase nutritional foods and educate students about what they need to fuel their day!”

– Honored by Julie Osnes, School Librarian, Wayne Community Schools

“This group has stepped up to get the job done. Some of them may only work a few hours a day or week, but they all work to get meals prepared. Enjoy using local produce and beef. Always a friendly smile for the students.”

– Honored by Judy Poehlman, Food Service Manager, Wayne Community Schools

“Teresa is always making the lunch rooms brighter and inviting by her decorations. She decorates for every holiday and dresses up the monthly calendar board.”

– Honored by Deb Daum, Administrative Assistant, Wayne Community Schools

“This group of ladies have worked hard to improve the meal program in the building. Having a friendly face to greet the students. They have worked hard to learn on the school meal rules.”

– Honored by Judy Poehlman, Food Service Manager, Wayne Community Schools

“Felisia goes above and beyond to try to make meals as delicious as possible for students. She also has been a great collaborator with staff on how to best serve students, make things more efficient, and make sure the students have a great experience. Lastly, she has gone out her way to celebrate various holidays or times of the year by decorating or having special treats for students. She truly cares about making the students smile.”

– Honored by Brian Stevens, Principal, Westside Community Schools

“Ms. Lisa comes to West Campus every day with a smile on her face. She is not just our “lunch lady”, she is a true member of our team. Ms. Lisa is patient, kind, and personable with our students. She calls all of them by name when serving their food. She is also very funny and collegial with all of the staff as well. “

– Honored by Ericka Payton, Assistant Program Director, Westside Community Schools

“Janet has worked hard this year trying to keep the kitchen running as consistent as possible. With staffing shortage and charging for school lunches, it has put extra stress on her to make sure that students are getting fed. Students get a lunch and even get options, she has done a good job of not letting those things go as the staffing issues continue to grow! Great job Janet Slama in always putting students first!”

– Honored by Christine Radcliff, Elementary Principal, Wilber Clatonia Public Schools

“Shawna makes the school kitchen extra special from fun kitchen decorations, costumes, colored food and her unforgettable laugh. She is a hero because she makes kids feel awesome while they eat school food. With construction in our building, Shawna’s main concern was making sure students still had choices and quality meals. She was willing to go to whatever lengths possible to make sure they were fed; her mission is to make our students’ day.”

– Honored by Terry Zessin, Superintendent, Wood River Rural Schools