Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards announced the winners of the 2018 No Kid Hungry Louisiana School Breakfast Challenge. Students and school administrators from schools across Louisiana’s five regions attended a special breakfast and awards ceremony at the Governor's Mansion. 

More than 350 Louisiana schools participated in the second annual School Breakfast Challenge which resulted in an additional 154,000 meals that were served in October 2018.

“Just like pencils and textbooks, breakfast is a school supply that is essential to our children’s learning experience. We know the role school breakfast plays in ending childhood hunger and today, thousands more of Louisiana’s students are starting the day with the nutrition they need,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “When you have strong, healthy, educated children, you have a strong, smart, healthy Louisiana.”

No Kid Hungry Louisiana launched statewide in 2017 as a public-private partnership to end child hunger in the state. The initiative works to connect children to federal food and nutrition programs including school breakfast, summer meals, and afterschool meals. 

“We congratulate all of the winners of the 2018 Louisiana School Breakfast Challenge for their work to ensure kids start their day with a healthy breakfast,” said Rhonda Jackson, director of No Kid Hungry Louisiana. “We’re excited to build on today’s momentum to work with more schools across Louisiana to make breakfast a part of the school day.”

2018 School Breakfast Challenge Winners:
Region 1: Fair Park Middle School, Caddo Parish
Region 2: Forest School, West Carrol Parish
Region 3: Iota Middle School, Acadia Parish
Region 4: St. Amant Middle School, Ascension Parish
Region 5: Albany High School, Livingston Parish 

Each winning school received a $1,000 check from Share Our Strength. Albany High School and St. Amant Middle School, the top two statewide winning schools, will also be treated to a school-wide Saints Pep Rally with a star player in March. 

Pictures of today's breakfast and ceremony can be found here.  

 ###