Students ‘Book It’ To Win Statewide Breakfast Bookmark Contest

The Dairy Council of Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Management, celebrated the third annual Florida School Breakfast Week with a statewide bookmark contest.

The theme of this year’s Florida School Breakfast Week was “Ready, Set, Go …” and featured a bookmark contest encouraging students to eat school breakfast every day during the week of Sept. 14-18.  The contest “Ready, Set, Go … Book It to Eat School Breakfast!” was open to Florida students in grades K-12 who participate in the National School Lunch Program. More than 500 schools submitted entries. 

Student winners were chosen for elementary, middle and high school categories. School nutrition professionals at each level also were recognized for their commitment to the school breakfast program. Student winners received a “Breakfast Bonus Bag” with a $50 bookstore gift card. School nutrition managers received $100 bookstore gift cards and got milk? goodies.

Florida School Breakfast Week was designed to promote awareness and increase participation in the school breakfast program.  Students collected stickers for their “breakfast bookmark” each day they ate breakfast at school during breakfast week and those with five stickers were eligible to win prizes.

“During Florida School Breakfast Week, students focus on the connection between academic excellence and the importance of starting each day with a nutritious breakfast,” said Jennifer W. Sills, Registered Dietitian and Director of School Marketing for the Dairy Council of Florida.  “Eating breakfast has been associated with higher standardized test scores, better attendance and behavior among students and improved weight control.” 

2009 “Ready, Set, Go … Book It to Eat School Breakfast” Contest Winners

Elementary
1st place – Morgan Simoga, 5th grade, Chiefland Elementary School, Levy County
2nd place – Janel Garcia, Kindergarten, Ernest Graham Elementary School, Miami-Dade County
3rd place – Kida Bailey, Kindergarten, Edge Elementary, Okaloosa County
School Food Service Manager – Robin Egar, Turner Elementary, Brevard County

Middle School
1st place – Maria Pimentei, 6th grade, Dr. Rolando Espinosa K-8 Center, Miami-Dade County
2nd place – Alora Beckham, 6th grade, Cedar Key School, Levy County
3rd place –  Robert Desdin, 6th grade, Paul Bell Middle School, Miami Dade County
School Food Service Manager – Sonya Mincey, Mulberry Middle, Polk County

High School
1st place – Tiffany Jean, 12th grade, Bayside High School, Brevard County
2nd place – Steven Bainbridge, 10th grade, Cedar Key School, Levy County
3rd place – Angela Crooks, 10th grade, Heritage High School, Brevard County
School Food Service Manager – Tally Schneider, Bayside High School, Brevard County