UPDATED: Irving ISD & Lee Elementary receives U.S. Department of Agriculture Award

Updated 03:01 p.m., March 9, 2007

by Chad Jones

Pictured, back row, from left, are: Bill Ludwig, USDA Southwest Region administrator; Steve Savage; Michael Rosenberger, director of food service; Maria Elena Coronado, Lee principal; and Todd Staples. The rest are just some random kids.

This Wednesday morning, a special ceremony was held in the Lee Elementary School gymnasium to commemorate the Team Nutrition Silver School award won by Irving ISD Food Service and Lee Elementary. The award, which was first announced last fall, was presented by Steve Savage, USDA Food & Nutrition Services communications and government affairs director.

Also attending was Todd Stapes, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, who congratulated Lee for becoming the first school in Texas to receive this designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its HealthierUS Schools Challenge program.

To receive the award, Lee and Food Service submitted more than 50 pages of information in support of the school’s commitment to healthy students and nutritious meals. The award is based on three criteria:

Rumor has it that Power Panther's backwards cap is the source of all his coolness.

Nutrition & Health Education
Active Physical Education

Nutrition Levels of School Food

Additionally, that jolly ol' Power Panther, a mascot for the Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ campaign for the USDA’s Team Nutrition program, entertained students at Lee Elementary School during Wednesday’s ceremony.

For more information about the award program or statistics regarding nutrition in the state of Texas, contact Jesus Garcia with the USDA office at 214-290-9940 or jesus.garcia@fns.usda.gov.

Posted by Chad J.