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Awards and Honors

Dining Services boasts a tradition of award-winning programming, venues, and service. In the last five years, more than 50 colleges and businesses have benchmarked our program and its facilities. We have received numerous awards for our chefs, facilities, franchises, and program.

  • These Colleges In The US Have The Best Campus Food, The Travel
  • No. 3, Best Campus Food, “Best of 384 Colleges: 2019 Edition,” The Princeton Review
  • No. 1, Best Campus Food, Niche
  • College Food Truck of the Year, Mobile Cuisine
  • Winner 2019 Food Management Menu Madness Tournament, Food Management
  • No. 1, Sales Volume College and University, Freshens
  • No. 4, College Power Players, Food Management
  • The 15 best college dining halls in America, according to students, Business Insider
  • Best Sandwiches with Global Flavors - “Smoky Lamb Dip” Food Management
  • No. 2, “Jerk Chicken Wings,” Tyson Foods’ College & University Wings Contest
  • University Photographers’ Association of America
    • 3rd place in Photo Essay - "Plant Forward"
    • 3rd place in Personal Vision - "Cream and Sugar"
  • Western Virginia American Advertising Awards
    • 2019 Silver Addy® Award for Deet's Place Compostable Cups
    • 2019 Silver Addy® Award for Plant Forward Food Photography
  • Best of Show - 2018 Best Concept Award, Food Management
  • College Food Truck of the Year, Mobile Cuisine
  • No. 2, Best Campus Food, Niche
  • No. 1, The Best College Dining Program In Each State, FoodService Director
  • No. 9, Best Colleges for Food in America, The Daily Meal
  • No. 2, 50 Best Colleges with the Best Food 2017-18, Best Value Schools
  • No. 3, 2018 College Power Players, Food Management
  • No. 3, The Ten Colleges with the Best Dining Halls, College Magazine
  • No. 6, Best Campus Food, “Best of 382 Colleges: 2018 Edition,” The Princeton Review
  • Top 15 Best Universities for Healthy Eaters, Healthline
  • Top 25 Best College Dining Halls - The College Consensus Best Campus Dining Halls, College Concensus
  • The 30 Colleges With The Best Campus Food You've Ever Seen, Delish
  • Reusable To-Go Program - Honorable Mention for the 2018 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards
  • A Report Card for Vegan Offerings, for going above & beyond to provide all students with exceptional vegan food, Peta2
  • Silver Plate Award, Ted Faulkner, Colleges and Universities, IFMA 
  • No. 2, Best Campus Food, Niche
  • No. 4, Best Campus Food, “Best of 381 Colleges: 2017 Edition,” The Princeton Review
  • No. 1, Sales volume College and University, Chick-fil-A
  • No . 1, Sales volume Brueggers Bagels
  • No. 1, Sales volume College and University, Freshens
  • 17 Colleges with the Best Food Chowhound.com
  • 15 Best Universities for Healthy Eaters
  • Top 20  Non-Commercial Foodservice Operators - FoodService Director
  • Best Colleges in Each State Based on Dining Hall Food - MSN Lifestyle
  • No. 2, The Best College Food in America - Town and Country Magazine
  • No. 9, Top 30 College Dining Halls - lendedu
  • The Best College Dining Halls in America - Travel and Leisure
  • The Souths Most Stunning Campus Dining Rooms - Southern Living
  • Western Virginia American Advertising Awards
    • Gold 2017 ADDY for Grillfield Truck wrap 
    • Silver 2017 ADDY for Periodic Table Truck wrap
    • Silver 2017 ADDY for Grillfield Logo
  • B Report Card for Vegan Offerings, for going above and beyond to provide all students with exceptional vegan food, Peta2
  • No. 3, Best Campus Food, “Best of 380 Colleges: 2016 Edition,” The Princeton Review
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • No. 1, Best Campus Food, Niche
  • NACUFS Bronze, Sustainability Oureach and Education
  • B Report Card for Vegan Offerings, for going above and beyond to provide all students with exceptional vegan food, Peta2
  • No. 3, Best Campus Food, “Best of 380 Colleges: 2016 Edition,” The Princeton Review
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • No. 1, Fittest College in America, The Active Times
  • No. 1, The 10 Best Dining Halls on College Campuses, College Magazine
  • No. 2, Best College Food, "The 2015 Cappies" Cappex
  • No. 1, Top 10 College Dining Halls, West End Market, Lendedu
  • No. 5, Colleges with the Best Dining Halls, Business Insider
  • No. 1, Best Campus Food, “Best of 379 Colleges: 2015 Edition,” The Princeton Review
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • 2014 Premier REACH Illuminating Excellence Award
  • No. 3, Best College Food in America, Daily Meal
  • Top 15, Best College Dining Halls 2014, Business Insider
  • 9 Great Meals in Unexpected Places - Conde' Nast Traveler
  • Brueggers Bagels New Bakery Volume Leader
  • Qdoba Gold Sales Award
  • 2014 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award - Bronze Medal
  • No. 1, Best Cafeteria Variety, College Prowler
  • No. 1, Best Quality Food, College Prowler
  • No. 7, Heathiest Dining Options, College Prowler
  • No. 13, 50 Fittest Colleges in America, MSN
  • 14 Best College Dining Halls in America, Thrillist
  • No. 3, 25 Universities with the Healthiest and Freshest Food, Best Hospitality Degrees
  • 2014 RecycleMania Pledge Drive Winner
  • Gold Loyal E. Horton Award, NACUFS, "Flappers and Fall Guys," Residence Hall Dining - Theme Dinner
  • Gold STARS Rating, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
  • VT Milk, designated as Virginia's Finest Product
  • The Hobbit Meal, special event coverage, Food Management Magazine
  • No. 3  Best College for Food in America - Daily Meal
  • No. 1, Top Universities for Food & Dining - Ranked by Students - Cappex College Insider
  • Outstanding Design Award for Specialized Facility, Lavery Hall - American School and University
  • College and University Innovator of the Year, Food Management Magazine
  • Best Concepts - Best New Facility, Food Management Magazine
  • Grand Prize Loyal E. Horton Award, NACUFS Turner Place - Retail Sale - Multiple Concepts/Marketplace Design
  • Gold Loyal E. Horton Award, NACUFS Turner Place - Retail Sale - Multiple Concepts/Marketplace Design
  • Honorable Mention Loyal E. Horton Award, NACUFS Turner Place - Residential Dining - Special Event
  • No. 1, Fittest College, 2013, The Active Times
  • No. 1, Best Cafeteria Variety, College Prowler
  • No. 1, Best Quality Food, College Prowler
  • No. 1, Best School Dining, College Prowler
  • No. 4, Best Campus Food, “Best of 378 Colleges: 2014 Edition,” The Princeton Review
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • A+, Campus Dining, College Prowler
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • Silver LEED Certification, Turner Place at Lavery Hall, U.S. Green Building Council
  • Silver STARS Rating, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
    Virginia Tech, with contributions from Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • No. 3 Daily Meal, Best Colleges for Food in America 2013
  • Qdoba - Highest 1st Years Sales Volume 2013
  • Grand Prize Loyal E. Horton Award, National Association of College & University Food Services Catering Online Menu – Personal Touch Catering
  • No. 2, Best Campus Food, “Best of 376 Colleges: 2013 Edition,” The Princeton Review
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • A+, Campus Dining, College Prowler
    Virginia Tech Dining Services
  • No. 1 Daily Meal, Best Colleges for Food in America
  • Second Place Loyal E. Horton Award, National Association of College & University Food Services
    “Valentine’s Day in Manhattan”, Residence Hall Dining - Theme Dinner
  • Grand Prize, The Idaho Bean Commission/National Association of College & University Food Services
    We Know Beans! Vegetarian Bean College at The Depot at Dietrick, Vegetarian Marketplace Competition
  • Highest Sales Volume for College Market, Chick-Fil-A, Inc.
    Chick-Fil-A at Hokie Grill & Co.
  • Highest Sales Volume for College Market, Pizza Hut, Inc.
    Pizza Hut at Hokie Grill & Co.