Penn State’s Office of Housing and Food Services is making strides toward a more sustainable Penn State community, including the new position of sustainability coordinator, now held by alumna Anna Sostarecz. She hit the ground running, with three major sustainability-focused plans already in action: LeanPath, Green2Go and a partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Students at Penn State's University Park campus can spend more time studying and less time doing laundry with the launch of Tide University Laundry this fall. The program offers on-demand wash-and-fold and dry-cleaning options through an app-based locker service with locations across campus.
For the fourth year in a row, The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion Inn has received Wine Spectator magazine’s “Best of” Award of Excellence — the highest wine list award achieved in the history of the inn.
Athan Spanos, executive chef at Penn State Harrisburg, represented Penn State and took the top American Culinary Federation award for his signature dish at the National Culinary Challenge in Denver, Colorado.
Two teams of Penn State chefs earned medals at the 25th annual American Culinary Federation culinary competition, held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on June 13 and 14.
The Sbarro location in the HUB-Robeson Center at Penn State's University Park campus is currently closed for renovations and will reopen for the fall 2019 semester with an updated look and design.
Changes in campus retail dining are on the horizon for the fall 2019 semester, as Panera Bread will replace Au Bon Pain at four University Park locations.
At New Student Orientation, first-year Penn State students can start winning fun prizes while getting their id+ card.
The end of the semester, and completing finals, usually brings a sense of accomplishment, but for one Penn State student, wrapping up the spring semester came with another reward: a trophy designating him a "McAlister’s Menu Master."
Starting the 2019 fall semester, Penn State Residential Dining will say good-bye to plastic bags. Students are encouraged to look ahead and plan to start using reusable bags when purchasing to-go meals or items in campus convenience stores. “We made this decision as part of a larger campaign to reduce one-time use items like plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic silverware, and to offer more sustainable, reusable solutions,” says Jamie Robinson, senior assistant director in Residential Dining.
Registered Dietitian Katy Petrosky has joined Penn State’s Culinary Support Services team. Petrosky will provide nutritional and wellness education and support for all of Penn State Residential Dining.
Throughout dinner and late-night dining hours on April 22, students eating at any of the dining venues at University Park’s South Food District will have the opportunity to donate $5 to $15 from their meal plan to benefit the Student Emergency Fund. Students at Penn State Altoona will have the same donation opportunity during lunch at Port Sky Café on April 23.
"CUB" pantries, miniature versions of Lion's Pantry's main pantry, are located in buildings across campus to help provide easy access to necessities for students who are unable to travel to the main pantry located between Lion Surplus and the Blue Band Building.
The Mix, Pollock Commons’ go-to convenience store, is undergoing renovations for fall 2019. When returning to University Park in the fall, students will find an all-new Mix that includes an expanded marketplace with a wide variety of convenience items and groceries, new menu features, and a second location of The Edge coffee shop.
Penn State Housing and Food Services contributed to the efforts of Penn State student organizations that held events recently to support local food banks while raising awareness about food insecurity.
