By Michael Callahan

Contributing Writer

DE PERE – St. Norbert College Executive Chef Josh Swanson and Director of Dining Services Melissa DaPra seem to have everything figured out for the roughly 1,000 students that eat at the college’s dining hall.

Swanson and DaPra’s enthusiasm reflect a genuine care on what they present to each student, day-in and day-out.

“We have 10 chefs on the staff,” DaPra explained. “We care about the audience and know that they are going to college as 18 year olds and they want a home away from home.”

Health and diversity is an overall goal for the students that swipe into the cafeteria.

“I always say that the students are ‘world travelers of food’ at the end of their four years here at St. Norbert College,” Swanson said.

They try to have a unique menu for every month that passes by throughout the given school year, but that process can also present challenges.

They understand that people have allergies and that they need to make sure that these options are available to all that eat at the state’s highest-ranked college cafeteria.

They said that structure plays a role.

They get a lot of good input on what to change in their recipes and know that the full experience is key to their success.

Swanson said that they want to “educate them and grow” with what nutrition and a full experience can bring to each student.

Swanson added that Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving are big dinners that bring a large impact to each person.

Their uniqueness also derives from students submitting recipes.

The home-style meals are meant to be presented to the students so they feel more comfortable and more “at home”.

This also gives other students an opportunity to try new foods as well.

“Students try new things at this age and it is safe to do so,” DaPra explained.

Students tend to change their diet in college, finding the foods that they like and dislike.

DaPra and Swanson said that a lot of bigger colleges have the same four or five selections of food, while St. Norbert gives something different each day to provide balance and nutrition.

According to Niche, a company that profiles U.S. colleges, St. Norbert College in De Pere has the fourth-best food in the nation and tops the Midwest.

“This award is voted by our students and it means we are hitting the market,” Swanson said.

Pass It Forward™ editorial is sponsored by Packers Give Back and Nicolet Bank.