***For Immediate Release***
Wednesday, March 6
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 ext 116
sierrasp@neappleseed.org
RELEASE: Nebraska Schools Complete Breakfast Challenge 2024 Winners Announced
Annual challenge asks participating Nebraska schools to create more accessible, engaging, and nourishing breakfast experiences for students.
NEBRASKA – This February, 26 Nebraska schools volunteered to compete in the Nebraska School Breakfast Challenge 2024 hosted by Nebraska SNAC, No Kid Hungry, and the Nebraska Department of Education!
This challenge asked participating schools to create more accessible, engaging, and nourishing breakfast experiences for students. Schools earned points for things like piloting an alternative breakfast model (such as Grab and Go), marketing their programs to students in new ways, inviting local elected officials or community leaders to breakfast, and more. Top point earners in categories of >600 students and 600+ win cash prizes.
26 Nebraska schools signed up to participate:
- Anselmo Merna Public School
- Burke High School, Omaha
- Cedar Bluffs Public Schools
- Centennial Public School
- Crawford High School
- DC West Elementary
- DC West High School
- DC West Middle School
- Dundy County Stratton Schools
- Giltner Public School
- Grant Elementary, Norfolk
- Humphrey Public Schools
- Huntington Elementary, Lincoln
- Indian Hill Elementary, Omaha
- Litchfield Public School
- Loup City High School
- Minne Lusa Elementary, Omaha
- Paxton Consolidated Schools
- Pleasanton Public School
- Prairie View Elementary, Ogallala
- Seward High School
- Seward Middle School
- Sutherland Public Schools
- West Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln
- Wood River Elementary
- Wood River High School
The challenge ended on February 23 and six schools’ scores pushed them to the top (all scores are out of 48 possible):
CHALLENGE WINNERS:
600 Students or Less
- Sutherland Public Schools in Sutherland – 36 points
- Dundy County Stratton Schools in Benkelman – 32 points
- Grant Elementary, Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk – 30 points
- Huntington Elementary, Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln – 30 points
- West Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln – 30 points
600 Students or More
- Burke High School, Omaha Public Schools in Omaha – 18 points
Some highlights from the winners (Click here for downloadable images):
All of our participating schools went above and beyond in this challenge! Check out all the amazing work on by reviewing #NESchoolBreakfast on Facebook. Next, read some of the polite trash talking from participants below:
Billie Wasserburger, Elementary Secretary with Crawford Public School shared: “Look at us go! Breakfast with the principal, new grab n go started this year, and new signs made and posted. We have also written a letter to our school board and invited them to join us for breakfast as well as sending out posters on our Remind communication to parents/students/community members! Oh, did I mention we sent out a survey to our students this morning AND have a poster challenge underway?”
Jennifer Mostek, Kitchen Manager with Litchfield Public School wrote, “We have been doing alot on the scorecard. Sent a letter to board members, we’re having a pj day Monday. Poster Contest Wednesday and sent out a survey to the kids. And been promoting breakfast. Lots more ahead I hope at Litchfield Public School.”
DeAnn Davis, Administrative Assistant with Dundy County Stratton wrote, “I wanted to tell you how proud we are of our kitchen staff! They have been very busy this month! Some activities we have done so far: elementary coloring contest, breakfast with Mr. Freeland (Elementary Principal), Jr. & Sr. High breakfast survey, and implementing a Grab-N-Go breakfast! Tomorrow we will host our local Law Enforcement for breakfast to thank them for all they have done for our community! We have made posters utilizing our High School athletes to promote a healthy breakfast. It has been an exciting and fun month so far!”
Congrats to all our participants for trying something new, engaging more deeply with students, and helping more kids get the food they need. We hope you and other schools in our state try out or continue the activities from this challenge and apply them to their programs.