The Missouri State University dining services team works hard each day to provide tasty and nutritious meals to students and faculty  around campus. In addition to feeding Bears, dining services serves the local community.

This summer, Compass Group, dining services’ parent company, awarded the team with a bronze level award for Compass in the Community, which recognizes acts of community involvement and service.

Community engagement

Community involvement is very important to dining services at Missouri State. To achieve the bronze level award, dining services hosted many events, three of which were highlighted in its winning submission to Compass Group:

• An autism awareness event, which featured simulation booths, merchandise sales and educational materials about what it’s like to be on the spectrum and the challenges that autistic students face each day.
• A breast cancer awareness luncheon, which was held in the Plaster Student Union ballroom. Half of the proceeds were donated to breast cancer awareness organizations.
• An annual event for Children’s Miracle Network, which is open to all members of the community. The event includes a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, live band, representatives from the Miss America pageant and a gourmet dinner provided by the dining services team.

In addition, the team donated more than 4,500 pounds of food to local food banks, veteran’s homes and low-income nursing homes.

Award details

As a result of its community engagement, dining services was selected out of 9,000 accounts for the bronze level award, which comes with a $2,000 prize to be donated to a charity of preference.

After careful consideration, the dining services team decided to donate their award money to three different organizations. Of the $2,000 prize money, $700 is going to the Missouri State Student Pantry, $700 to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ozarks and $600 to local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

For more information, contact Nicole Young, director of marketing, at 417-836-4630.