Awards & Scholarships

 Josephine Martin National Policy Fellow

 Annually ARSNA is proud to offer its Arkansas School Nutrition Association Scholarships. Scholarship funds are generated through the efforts of our members, including silent auctions, raffles, and cookbook sales. Winners will be awarded a sum of $1,000 to be applied towards their college tuition for the current school year.

• Certification Information
• Credentialing Information

Do it for you! Do it for your community! Do it for your students!

SNA develops and encourages the highest standards in school nutrition programs and provides educational opportunities to ensure the professional development of its members. SNA’s Certification Program is based on the standards of practice and indicators in the Keys to Excellence in School Food and Nutrition Programs that define nationally accepted standards for quality programs.

Why Should You Become Certified?

Becoming SNA certified adds credibility to your position and to your school's program. It is also a factor in attracting people to careers in school foodservice and nutrition.

• Increase your knowledge and skills of food safety and nutrition to create a healthy school environment.
• Enhance your professional image with parents, children & school administrators.
• Stay current on issues concerning school nutrition initiatives.
• Demonstrate commitment to your profession.
• Provide a career ladder you can use to advance in the field from assistant, to cook, to manager, to director.

SNA’s Certification Program is recognized as a leader in the child nutrition industry. SNA is dedicated to:

• Developing and encouraging the highest standards in school nutrition programs.
• Providing educational opportunities to ensure the professional development of certified professionals.
• Encouraging life-long learning.

Already Certified Individuals

Those who are currently certified with SNA and have a certification expiration date between now and September 2011, will follow the former certification renewal guidelines. Note that SNA will honor your 3-year certification period and certification expiration date as stated on your certificate.

You will still follow the former requirements for Certification Renewal and pay the annual certification fee:

• Level 1 requires 15 CEUs during your 3-year certification period
• Level 2 requires 30 CEUs during your 3-year certification period
• Level 3 requires 45 CEUs during your 3-year certification period

You will be enrolled in SNA’s New Certification Program at the time of your certification expiration date.

Things to Know

• You are responsible for earning and maintaining your own CEU records during your three year renewal period and may be required to verify CEUs earned when renewing your certification.
• Three months prior to your certification expiring, SNA will send you a renewal notice and application.
• You must complete the renewal application and pay the renewal fee.
• In order to pay the member rate at the time of your renewal, you must have maintained your membership during your entire three year certification period.
• If you fail to submit your renewal application and pay the renewal fee on time, you will have to re-apply for initial certification, meet the requirements for initial certification and pay the initial certification fee.
• If you plan on moving from one level to the next, note that you will have to apply for initial certification and pay the initial certification fee for that Level.

Click on How Do You Become Certified? to see the initial certification requirements and application form.

SNA Awards Program:

Through the SNA Awards Program, SNA celebrates and recognizes every-day heroes: school nutrition professionals who work every day to ensure well-nourished students across the country are prepared for success!  The SNA Awards Program has been revamped and now features easy-to-understand names, new prizes, streamlined rules, and for the first time ever, you can now nominate a deserving colleague online. Awards include:

• Employee of the Year
• Manager of the Year
• Director of the Year

 Nominations are due online or to the State President by March 1, of the current year. Find out more and nominate someone you know at www.schoolnutrition.org/SNAawards

Deadline to submit letter of intent: December 1, of the current year.
Submit to the current State President Elect.

This award is considered the highest honor a school nutrition manager can earn. It recognizes the importance of those closest to the school nutrition program, the managers.

The award is given to the person who has taken a special idea, developed it into a goal and used that goal to help the school’s nutrition program grow.

Only FoodService/Nutrition and Child Care Manager section members who are SNA certified may apply for this award.

State, regional and national winners are recognized at SNA’s Annual National Conference.