Every school nutrition professional has a story.

For some, it began when they were kids in the cafeteria line, while others arrived through winding roads of experience in other industries. SNA’s four 2026 national award recipients are proof that the path into this profession is rarely straight, but it is always purposeful. Their journeys are as distinct as they are inspiring, but they still share a common thread that likely holds true for most of you, too: the belief that school nutrition is not just a job, but an opportunity to directly nourish students and prepare them for successful futures...