UNT Dining Services competes for national title after being named a contest finalist

UNT Dining Services is competing this week at the National Association of College and University Food Services' national competition in New Orleans.

Earlier this summer, the department learned that it won the Gold Award in the 2005 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards Contest for the category of Residence Hall — Theme Dinner. The award made UNT a finalist in the national competition.

This year, NACUFS received 182 entries, a record number for the dining contest. In winning the award, UNT Dining Services bested universities such as Cornell, Notre Dame and Stanford.

"We competed nationally with major schools from throughout the nation," says Regenia Phillips, director of dining services. "We rose above the rest in showcasing our theme. It was a great day for us because the competition is really tough."

The UNT group chose a patriotic theme for this year's entry, "All-Star Salute, All-Star Challenge," held on the evening of March 2.

Different residence halls focused on the different branches of the armed services, and enlisted military personnel and veterans were invited to attend.

NACUFS judged the theme dinner entries on menu selection, merchandising and presentation, marketing and overall impression.

"We wanted people to walk in and say, ‘Wow, this is cool,'" Phillips says of the dinner event.

BY BRANDON EVANS inhouse@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Implementation of Academic Plan begins
• Strategic Plan and Responsibility Center Management
• Work to create a UNT child-care facility is moving forward
• Summer benefits enrollment begins July 25
• Two UNT music students earn Fulbright grants to fund international study
• Sunday Fun Day volunteers needed
• Murphy Enterprise Center awards $30,000 to UNT students with winning business plans
• Nineteen students earn Mayborn scholarships

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