Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards

The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards is the ultimate professional tribute in college and university culinary arts. The award, named after a National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) founder, past president, and highly regarded innovator, celebrates exemplary menus, presentations, special event planning and new dining concepts. NACUFS celebrates the innovative ideas and successful implementation of these programs. The winners, broken down into small, medium, and large institutions, will have their entries displayed at the National Conference and award winners are recognized and celebrated during a luncheon, with an announcement of the Grand Prize winners. Grand Prize winners will also receive recognition in Campus Dining Today®, the official magazine of NACUFS.

The 2023 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards entry period is now closed. Submissions for 2024 will begin in the fall of 2023.

 

 

The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards is open to Institutional members and has six different categories including:

 
Residential Dining Concepts
 

This award celebrates any residential dining concept housed with an all-you-care-to-eat facility, regardless of meal plan type. **Note: If you enter this category, you cannot enter the dining facility category. **


There were no entries that met the minimum requirements for a medal in Residential Dining Concepts for 2022.

 
Residential Dining Facility
 

This award celebrates any all-you-care-to-eat residential dining facility, regardless of meal plan type. **Note: If you enter this category, you cannot enter the dining concepts category. **


The winners in the Residential Dining Facility category for 2022 are:

 

Gold: Tufts University

Gold: Rider University

Silver: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bronze: Cal Poly, Pomona

The grand prize winner is Tufts University for Fresh at Carmichael.

 
Residential Dining – Special Event
 

A unique event that took place outside of your typical dining program, such as a festival, holiday celebration, or recognition.


The winners in the Residential Dining - Special Event category for 2022 are:


Gold: Virginia Tech

Gold: North Dakota State University

Silver: University of North Texas

Bronze: University of Arizona

The grand prize winner is Virginia Tech for the Chili Challenge.

 
Retail Sales – Single Concept/Multiple Concepts/Marketplace
 

A retail location on campus that has innovative features and techniques.


The winners in the Retail Sales - Single Concept/Multiple Concepts/Marketplace category for 2022 are:


Gold: University of California - San Diego

Gold: University of Richmond

Gold: Schoolcraft College

Silver: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Silver: Central Washington University

Silver: SUNY at Cortland

Bronze: Texas Christian University

Bronze: University of Arizona

The grand prize winner is the University of Richmond for Organic Krush.

 
Catering – Special Event
 

A campus event that was executed with notable touches and had an original feel to it.


There were no entries that met the minimum requirements for a medal in Catering - Special Event for 2022.

 
Catering – Online Menu
 

To submit your 2023 entry for Catering - Online Menu, please email your submission to membership@NACUFS.org entry form, essay, and URL. 

A distinct, special menu that is used for catered occasions on campus.


The winners in the Catering - Online Menu category for 2022 are:


Gold: University of North Texas

Gold: University of North Dakota

Gold: Rollins College

Silver: Hope College

The grand prize winner is the University of North Texas for Verde Catering.