National Grand Prize Awards Given to Campus Dining
Campus Dining was recognized for excellence in student-centered food service by the National Association of College & University Food Services.
Cal Poly Campus Dining joined college and university dining teams from across the country this month as they were recognized for excellence in student-centered food service, by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS).
Cal Poly was awarded with two Grand Prizes — one for Innovative Dining Program of the Year and one for Outreach and Education Program of the Year — during NACUFS’ 2025 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards National Conference in Salt Lake City on July 11.
“This recognition is a testament to the commitment this team has to providing our students with best-in-class dining experiences and our constant evolution as dining program,” said Andrea Burns, Cal Poly Partners’ associate executive director of Commercial Services. “It inspires us to continue to learn, grow and adapt with the changing dining trends and work to keep exceeding expectations.”
The Innovative Dining Program of the Year award encompassed Cal Poly Campus Dining as a whole. This included its more than 40 unique dining platforms, mobile food trucks, concessions and catering operations, as well as the 800 employees who help it run.
Additional features — such as a dedicated on-site registered dietitian, an award-winning sustainability program and consistent community outreach endeavors — set the program apart.
The second grand prize, Outreach and Education Program of the Year, centered around the on-campus Self-Care Fair that Campus Dining hosted last December and created a space for students to relax and de-stress during final-exams week.
Cal Poly was recognized alongside dining programs from Boston College, Duke University, University of Florida, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Texas.