Quick News  

  • MSNA's 2024 Annual Conference call for proposals is open! Submit your proposal by March 31. 
  • Our February member spotlight features Jennifer Walters, School Nutrition Director at Winona Area Public Schools. Read more about Jennifer here.
  • What's happening at MSNA? Check out the 'What's Happening at MSNA' February Feature.
  • MSNA advocacy in action! MSNA's 2024 Position Paper is gaining traction. President Michele Hawkinson testified in support of HF 3556 to increase student seat time, and HF 3471 was introduced to address milk reimbursement.
  • Apply for a School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) scholarship. These scholarships provide SNA members with funding for tuition and books for the following school year. Deadline to apply is March 29.
  • The MDE Team Nutrition initiative will host four in-person training sessions in February and March for school nutrition directors, managers and frontline staff on student nutrition and wellness. Learn more and register.
  • Does your school kitchen need an upgrade? Applications are now open for School Nutrition Foundation's (SNF) Equipment Grants! Apply before March 29.

Member Spotlight

Jennifer Walters, School Nutrition Director at Winona Area Public Schools. Read about Jennifer here.


Nominate a Colleague You Admire!

There is no time like the season of giving to recognize the hard work of our colleagues in the school nutrition profession who go above and beyond. The SNA Awards program highlights the outstanding and important work of SNA members and state affiliates. Members and state associations are eligible for a variety of honors that recognize their achievements in school foodservice, leadership, membership recruitment and professional development. Nominations must have been submitted online by March 2024.

Employee of the Year Award
Manager of the Year Award, in honor of Louise Sublette
Director of the Year Award
National Industry Member of the Year Award  

MSNA Members in the News!

3/18: Emily Malone, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools' director of child nutrition and MSNA President-Elect, was interviewed by the Prior Lake American, discussing challenges in school nutrition, as well as her experience at the School Nutrition Association’s annual Legislative Action Conference.

3/12: Darcy Stueber is the Edge Magazine's national CDM, CFPP of the month! Read about her experience in school nutrition and learn what she urges young professionals to do. Darcy is the MSNA Public Policy Committee Chair and Director of School Food Service for Mankato Schools.

3/11: Jess Pena, Nutrition Director for Red Wing Schools and SNA Public Policy & Legislative Committee member, talked to the Republican Eagle about her expectations for SNA’s Legislative Action Conference.

3/9: “Everyone is seeing an increase in this, and now the stigma is gone." MSNA President and Food Service Director at Tracy Area Schools, Michele Hawkinson, was interviewed by the Marshall Independent on the topic of school meals.

February/March: Testimony by MSNA President Michele Hawkinson in support of increasing seat time was included in this Minnesota News Network brief, and reference to the MSNA position on the issue was also included in a related story on FOX 9 KMSP. Michele was also featured in KMSP (Fox 9)'s story on "Students benefit from longer lunches, but can districts afford it?"

2/14: Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS)' Nutrition Director, Jennifer Walters, received a Farm to School Full Tray grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for $11,500 to use between January 2023 and 2024. WAPS used the grant to purchase beef from a local farm. The Winona Post covers the story.

2/5: The MSNA Position Paper advocates for a minimum of 15 minutes of seat time for students to eat their meal. WJON radio interviewed Darcy Stueber, MSNA Public Policy Committee Chair and Director of School Food Service in Mankato, on the matter. Read the article here.

2/5: Angela Richey, nutrition services supervisor for Roseville Area Schools, was featured in an MPR News article, discussing Roseville Schools' expansion of fresh, local, healthy food offerings since the implementation of MN Free Meals for All. 

1/24: Congratulations to MSNA member, Maria Amerman for being named a 2024 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellow from the Chef Ann Foundation. Maria is the Assistant Nutrition Director for Roseville Area & St. Anthony Schools- Nutrition Services.

1/10: How does Prior Lake-Savage Area School District make farm-to-school an integral part of the school day? Nutrition director, Emily Malone, described how her school got involved with the program and where it's taken them.

1/4: MSNA Vice President Glen Ritter appeared on WCCO & CBS News Minnesota to talk about ways to get children to eat healthier in the new year. Glen shared two popular dishes the nutrition team from St. Michael-Albertville School District makes for students.

Find past news stories here!