Memberships & Awards

Memberships

National Restaurant Association

National Association of Convenience Stores

University & College Designers Association

National Association of College and University Food Services

Connecticut Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA)

CT Dept. of Agriculture Farm to Chef Program

Heart CT Grown

Working Lands Alliance, A Project of American Farmland Trust

Bread Bakers Guild of America


Dining Accolades

2023

  • Willimantic Chronicle Readers’ Choice – Dairy Bar: Best Ice Cream & Best Place to Visit with an Out-of-Town Guest
  • UConn Creamery: Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition
    • Silver Medal – Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese – Green Chile
    • Silver Medal – Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese – Chipotle
    • Bronze Medal – Old Farm Lane Fresh Cheese – unflavored
  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Gold Medal for Best Local Foods Recipe
  • Green Restaurant Association (GRA)
    • All eight dining halls now have the highest rating of 4 Stars
    • GRA 2023 Award – Location with the most Chemical & Pollution Reduction – Putnam Dining
    • GRA 2023 Award – Location with the most Waste Reduction – Whitney Dining
    • GRA 2023 Award – Location with the most Water Conservation – McMahon Dining
  • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) – First Runner Up – UConn Dairy Bar

2022

2021

  • Best of Hartford (Ice Cream Category) – First Runner Up – UConn Dairy Bar
  • Sierra Club 2021 Green Campus Leader
  • The Chronicle: Best of 2021 Readers’ Choice Award, #2 Best Ice Cream – UConn Dairy Bar

2020

  • Sierra Club 2020 Green Campus Leader
  • The Chronicle: Best of 2020 Readers’ Choice Award, #1 Best Ice Cream – UConn Dairy Bar
  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Bronze Medal for Best Vegan Recipe
  • Yankee Magazine: Best of New England Hall of Fame 2020 – UConn Dairy Bar

2019

  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Silver Medal for Best Local Foods Recipe
  • Food Management Magazine: Top 25 College Dining Power Players
  • Sierra Club 2019 Green Campus Leader
  • CTNow Best of Hartford – Best Ice Cream Shop, 1st Place, UConn Dairy Bar
  • American Society of Animal Science Big Scoop Competition – UConn Dairy Bar Lemon Ice Box Pie
  • TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence – Hall of Fame, UConn Dairy Bar
  • The Chronicle: Best of 2019 Readers’ Choice Award, #1 Best Ice Cream – UConn Dairy Bar
  • American Cheese Society 2019 – Chipotle Cheese (2nd place) & Green Chile (3rd place), UConn Dairy Bar

2018

  • IFMA Silver Plate Award to Dining Services, Executive Director, C. Dennis Pierce
  • Menu Masters Healthful Innovations Award
  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Gold Award for Best Vegan Recipe
  • Delish: #3 in Top 30 Best College Dining Halls
  • Sierra Club 2018 Green Campus Leader
  • Connecticut Magazine: Best Ice Cream in Connecticut, UConn Dairy Bar

2017

  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Gold Medal for Best Local Foods Recipe
  • NACUFS – Residential Dining Unit – Bronze Medal for Putnam
  • 4 Bronze Medals: ACF Culinary Competition at Skidmore College
  • Connecticut Magazine: Best Ice Cream in Connecticut, UConn Dairy Bar
  • All 8 Dining Units -3-Star Green Restaurant Certified
  • Certified “Bee Campus USA” Affiliate
  • Freshens Customer Appreciation Award

2016

  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Gold Medal for Best Vegan Recipe
  • Green Circle Sustainability Award by DEEP

2015

  • Connecticut Magazine Best of CT: Best Ice Cream Parlor, UConn Dairy Bar
  • #1 Best Gluten Free Service Program
  • 1st Gluten Free College Bakery in U.S.
  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Gold Medal  for Best Local Foods Recipe
  • NACUFS Loyal Horton Award: Silver: Retail Sales – Single Concept – One Plate, Two Plates
  • NACUFS Culinary Challenge – Northeast Regional Conference
    Chef Kyle Davis -Silver Medal – Baby Bella and Pinoli Nut Buffalo Flank Steak with Cipollini Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Vegetable Medley

2014

  • NACUFS: #1 for Gluten-free Dining Options
  • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut, UConn Dairy Bar
  • NACUFS: Silver Medal for Sustainability
  • NACUFS: Bronze Medal for Culinary Challenge
  • AFC Bronze Medal Chef Culinary Competition

2013

  • Sierra Magazine 2013 #1 “Coolest Green Schools”
  • LEED Gold Certification for McMahon Dining Unit
  • The Daily Meal: Top 60 Best Colleges for Food
  • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut, UConn Dairy Bar
  • Yankee Magazine Best of New England: Editor’s Choice, UConn Dairy Bar
  • NACUFS Nutrition Contest – Silver Medal for Best Local Foods Recipe
  • Sierra Magazine 2013: Top 5 “Coolest Schools”
  • KBE Building Corporation received first place from the Connecticut Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., for their renovation of McMahon Dining Hall

2012

  • Yankee Magazine Best Ice Cream in New England, UConn Dairy Bar
  • NACUFS – Bronze Medal for McMahon Dining Renovation
  • Connecticut Magazine Best Ice Cream in Connecticut, UConn Dairy Bar
  • Environmental Leadership Award
  • The Connecticut Journalism Award
  • Best Business in Windham County
  • Sierra Magazine 2012: Top 5 “Coolest Schools”
  • PETA: Elite 8: Most Vegan Friendly Schools

2011

  • Sierra Magazine 2011: Top 20 “Coolest Schools”

2010

  • Sierra Magazine 2010: Top 20 “Coolest Schools”
  • NACUFS Culinary Competition
  • NACUFS Silver Medal for Catering – special event

2009

  • NACUFS: Bronze Medal for Most Innovative Nutrition Contest

2008

  • National Restaurant Association Menu Masters Award
  • Campbell’s Golden Ladle Award
  • Silver Medal at UMass 14th Annual Chef Culinary Competition
  • NACUFS Gold Medal for Whitney Dining Hall/Local Routes