Kasandra Davis

School Nutrition Foundation Member Award-LAC 2026 

Years in School Nutrition: 16 years

Students Served: 4,700

School Nutrition Association returning attendee scholarship

“What I love most about my job is the opportunity to connect with students; whether that’s through nutrition education or interacting with them in the cafeteria. I also enjoy highlighting our program on social media and showing our community the quality meals we serve.”

About Me

My goals include continuing to grow as a leader and strengthening our program, not only at the local level but on a national level as well. This is what makes this scholarship so important to me. It provided the opportunity to connect with operators across the country and engage with legislative staff to share the work we are doing and advocate for the needs of our programs. While advocacy can feel intimidating, this experience has helped me grow both professionally and personally. Gaining confidence in speaking up allows me to better serve my students, support my team, and make a meaningful impact; not just in my district, but across school nutrition programs nationwide.

Key Takeaways

Confidence. When we use a collective voice, it allows us to all speak the same terminology which has helped me build confidence in our industry, programs and overall child nutrition. I want my team to feel confident sharing ideas, speaking up about challenges, and taking ownership in our program. When everyone feels heard and valued, we build a stronger, unified profession that can better serve our students and contribute to the bigger picture of school nutrition.

The Impact of This Scholarship

This scholarship provided opportunities for networking, learning, and growing in confidence as a leader to advocate for school nutrition.

Because of your generosity, I am better equipped to serve my students, support my team, and advocate for the future of school nutrition. My hope is to continue building on this experience, expand my impact at both the local and national level, and inspire others in our profession to pursue growth and leadership opportunities. Thank you for believing in our work and helping us make a difference for students every day.