Federal Recognition for ACPS's School Nutrition Initiative
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has been honoured with the Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Award from Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The award, received on Friday, Aug. 22, recognises ACPS's commitment to providing nutritionally balanced meals to over 16,000 students daily across the district.
ACPS announced its receipt of the award on social media, expressing pride in its staff who have been working hard to earn this recognition. The HMI Recognition Award comes with several benefits, including complimentary registration and travel stipend to attend an exclusive national Healthy Meals Summit in Las Vegas.
The award provides opportunities for ACPS's School Nutrition Services team to share their best practices and learn from other awardees. Awardees will be highlighted and share their best practices through traditional and social media, stakeholder engagement, and Healthy Meals Summits.
ACPS's School Nutrition Service team is represented by a staff of over 150 well-trained, dedicated personnel. The team offers Breakfast and Lunch programs at all school locations, as well as After School Snack/Dinner programs in select schools.
Partnership with community-based organisations and support for summer learning initiatives is a key aspect of the team's work in Alexandria City Public Schools. ACPS partners with the USDA and receives federal funding to support its free-and-reduced-price nutrition programs.
The benefits of receiving the HMI Recognition Award include opportunities for national and local recognition, networking, and promotional resources. Awardees will have opportunities to network with other HMI awardees and will receive an awardee toolkit with promotional resources.
The official presentation of the award will take place in October 2025 at the Healthy Meals Incentives Awards. Awardees will receive recognition on USDA, AFHK, and Health Meals Incentives website, as well as national and local recognition and media opportunities.
ACPS understands that proper nutrition directly correlates with academic achievement and performance in the classroom. The School Nutrition Services team's efforts in Alexandria City Public Schools' nutrition programs have gained recognition at a national level. The school district is proud of its staff who have been working tirelessly to ensure the well-being of its students.
