Babson College Dining Serves Up More Honors for Employee Development and Support

For the second year in a row, Babson College Dining earned a prestigious Loyal E. Horton Dining Award by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS). 

Babson received a Gold Medal Award for excellence in the Employee Development Program of the Year category, recognizing dining programs that place an emphasis on growing and developing their team at all levels. Last year, Babson received a Silver Medal Award for excellence in the Catering Special Event of the Year category for its Celebrate & ELevate event. 

That recognition comes on the heels of other recent outstanding honors for members of the Babson Dining team. 

Tara Norcross, the director of residential dining at Trim Dining Hall, was named Employer of the Year by Lifeworks, a longtime partner of Babson Dining and a nonprofit organization that provides job training and placement services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Norcross and her team at Trim have empowered team members to build skills, develop independence, and find pride in their work through employment and continued on-the-job training—an important example of Babson’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence. 

And, Jacqueline (Jackie) Quadra, a longtime and beloved member of the Trim team, was awarded the Frontline Joyful Award last year by the Compass Group for her warmth and dedication in supporting students and colleagues. Quadra was one of only six people across the country honored with the prestigious award in Compass’ Be A Star program. 

The Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards are the ultimate professional honor in college and university culinary arts. Babson College Dining will be recognized and presented with its award in July at the NACUFS 2025 National Conference in Salt Lake City. 

Babson also was featured in Campus Dining Today, NACUFS’ magazine on the industry. The article, “Nourishing Talent,” detailed how Babson Dining prioritizes employee well-being through inclusive initiatives, accessible transportation, and robust training and development, efforts that strengthen retention, boost morale, and ultimately enhance service to the campus community. 

“Through collaborative and thoughtful strategies, we’ve boosted dining staff morale and fostered a strong sense of Babson College pride and belonging,” Caitlin Capozzi, vice president of learner success and dean of campus life at Babson, told Campus Dining Today. “When staff are aligned with our values and their well-being is prioritized, their positive energy directly enhances student outcomes and contributes to a thriving campus community.”