High-school students give high marks to efforts of the Sodexho 'lunch ladies'

Nation's Restaurant News, Feb 18, 2002

WEXFORD, PA. -- School foodservice employees seldom are recognized for the amount of effort they put forth in trying to provide healthful, tasty meals to the students coming to their cafeterias.

More often, they are satirized by cartoonists and mocked by comedians as stereotypical "blue-haired old ladies" serving mystery meats and inedible casseroles.

Earlier this month, however, students at Pine-Richland High School here gave positive recognition to the 10 "lunch ladies" who prepare their lunches -- and often, their breakfasts -- every day.

Pine-Richland's student council voted the women "Employees of the Month" for February.

The School Support Services division of Gaithersburg, Md.-based Sodexho manages the school district's foodservice program. In a brief ceremony the student council presented the foodservice department with a large plaque and thanked its members for all their hard work on behalf of the entire student body.

Cherry Cerminara, general manager for Sodexho at the Pine-Richland School District, says the success of her team is based on their relationship with the students.

"To be recognized and appreciated by the students we serve is a tremendous honor," Cerminara said. "My team works very hard to know each student and their individual tastes and preferences.

"They smile a lot, talk to the students and ask them how they are doing. They also sing their own version of 'Happy Birthday.' The kids really love the special attention my team gives."