Jul 13, 2014 3 min read

Laurel Highlands School District has been named the winner of the Top School District award in the first-ever Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge. The District earned a cash prize of $1,750 for its successful efforts to increase participation in its school breakfast program this year, and all schools in the district showed an increase in breakfast participation.

The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge was launched by the state Department of Education in January to ensure students across the state start their day ready to learn.

More than 1,000 schools competed in the statewide Challenge, which set a goal for schools to increase school breakfast participation by 30 percent.

Randy Walker, Laurel Highland School District Food Service director, and his staff implemented a number of creative ideas to increase participation.

“I am thrilled to have won this challenge,” Walker said. “I am especially proud of my staff and their accomplishments. After winning a state-wide competition like this one, the Laurel Highlands Food Service Department has now established itself as one of Pennsylvania’s leaders in the National School Breakfast Program. The bar has definitely been raised.”

At the high school, food service staff provided breakfast through a grab and go model, so that more students could participate. On Fridays, high school students from different sports teams or clubs visited the district’s four elementary schools to serve breakfast to the students.

The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge is supported by nonprofit organizations, local food retailers and community leaders throughout the state. Gov. Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett are co-chairs of this initiative.

“No child should have to start their day on an empty stomach,” said Julie Zaebst, policy center manager at the Coalition Against Hunger. “Laurel Highlands School District and all of the winners of the challenge deserve tremendous praise for their efforts.”

Although breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, far too many low-income children in Pennsylvania don’t get the nutrition they need at school. Pennsylvania ranks 39th in the country for student participation in the school breakfast program, according to the Food Research and Action Center. More than half–55 percent–of low-income students who receive free or reduced-price lunch are still missing out on the benefits of school breakfast. And that can negatively affect their health and development as well as their ability to learn and succeed in school.

“I am so impressed with the initiative that Randy took to make changes so that more children could benefit from the school breakfast program. His creativity and persistence paid off, and the students are benefiting because of his efforts,” said Karen Dreyer, Southwestern Pennsylvania Food Security Partnership Director. =

Schools that have made breakfast a priority are seeing impressive results.

Sponsors of the Pennsylvania School Breakfast Challenge include American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Castle Shannon Shop ‘n Save, ConAgra Foods, Food Research and Action Center, Giant, Giant Eagle, Mazon, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, Price Chopper, Sauder’s Eggs, Share Our Strength, ShopRite, Specter Family Foundation, and Weis Markets.

For a full list of winners and more information on the challenge, visit www.paschoolbreakfast.org.