The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards

Everybody deserves recognition for a job well done. In college and university culinary arts, the ultimate professional tribute is the NACUFS’ Loyal E. Horton Dining Award.  Named for a NACUFS
founder, past president, and highly regarded innovator, the Loyal E. Horton Award salutes the most innovative ideas and successful implementation in exemplary menus, presentations, special event planning, and residential dining concepts.

2024

• Silver - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  100 Years of Hollywood 

2023

• Silver & Grand Prize- Residential Dining/Special Event 
  Stranger Things Trick or Treat

2020

• Gold- Residential Dining Facility
  
• Gold - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  80's Rewind
• Gold- Catering/Special Event
  New Orleans Garden District Breakfast

2019

• Silver- Residential Dining Facility
  
• Silver - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  The Roaring 20's
  
• Bronze- Catering/Special Event
  Mysterious Benedict Society

2018

• Gold & Grand Prize- Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Gold - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  The Beatles
  
• Gold- Catering/Special Event
  Murphy House 40th Anniversary
  

2017

• Gold - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  New Orleans
  
• Gold- Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
  
• Gold- Catering/Special Event
  Daryl Farmer Special Guest
  

2016

• Gold & Grand Prize- Residential Dining/Special Event 
  BBQ Smokeout
• Gold- Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
  
• Gold- Catering/Special Event
  Autumn in Arkansas- Edwidge Danticat Special Guest
• Silver - Retail Sales
  The Burrow
  

2015

• Gold - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  Mediterranean Cruise
  
• Silver- Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Retail Sales
  The Burrow

2014

• Gold - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  A Day in Paris
• Gold - Retail Sales
  The Burrow 
• Silver- Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Catering
  Online Menu

2013

• Gold - Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Gold & Grand Prize - Catering
  Online Menu
• Gold - Retail Sales
  The Burrow 
• Bronze - Residential Dining/Special Event 
  Presidential Road Trip
• Bronze - Catering/Special Event 
  The Yellow Wall-Paper- Dan Welcher Special Guest

2012

• Gold - Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Catering
  Online Menu
• Silver - Retail Sales
  The Burrow
• Silver - Residential Dining/Special Event
  Carnival
• Bronze - Catering/Special Event
  Crime- Amelie Hastie Special Guest

2011

• Gold - Catering
  Online Menu
• Silver - Catering/Special Event
  Lydia Davis Special Guest
• Silver - Residential Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Residential Dining/Special Event
  Destination-20th Century Cuisine of No. America
• Silver - Retail Sales
  The Burrow

2010

• Gold - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Catering/Special Event
  David Wiesner Special Guest
• Bronze - Retail Operations
  The Burrow

2009

• Gold - Catering/Special Event
  West Meets East Dinner
• Silver - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Residence Hall/Special Event
  Paris Day
• Silver - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Retail Operations
  The Burrow

2008

• Gold - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Gold - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Gold - Catering/Special Event
  WAC Dinner/Reception
• Silver - Residence Hall/Special Event
  The OSCARS
• Bronze - Retail Operations
  The Burrow

2007

• Silver - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Residence Hall/Special Event
  Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville  

2006

• Silver - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Retail Operations
  The Burrow

2005

• Silver - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Residence Hall/Special Event
  Toad Suck Luncheon
• Silver - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Silver - Retail Operations
  The Burrow

2004

• Gold - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Gold - Residence Hall/Special Event
  Outback
• Bronze - Catering/Special Event
  Alumni Weekend
• Gold - Retail Operations
  The Burrow
• Silver - Catering
  Standard Menu

2003

• Bronze - Residence Hall Dining
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Special Event
  Luau
• Bronze - Catering
  Standard Menu
• Bronze - Catering/Special Event
  Christmas Party
• Silver - Retail Operations
  Standard Menu

2002

• Silver - Catering
  Standard Menu

2000

• Bronze - Residence Hall/Special Event
  Rock N' Roll

Other Awards

• 2021 The Helen S. Plotkin Team Excellence Award 
• 2021 Meritorious Service Award-The Contact Tracing & Quarantine Team.
• 2012 Premier Illuminating Excellence Award in the dining education sector - presented to Mike Flory
• 2009 Certificate of Recognition from the U.S.A. Rice Federation for supporting the US Rice Industry & innovated use of U.S.-grown rice on the menu
• 2004 and 2005 NACUFS Regional Culinary Challenge -Executive Chef Scott Pickens received the Bronze Award
• 1997-1998 Student Body Appreciation Award