Photo Credit: Deb Lindsey
Bonnie Moore (Executive Director, RFFK), Ype Von Hengst (Co-Founder and Chef, Silver Diner), 3 Students, Julie Onwonga (Teacher, Oxon Hill High School)
DMV Student Chefs Win Top Honors at 14th Annual Real Food For Kids Culinary Challenge
Winning recipes highlight healthy, culturally inspired meals designed for school cafeterias
Oxon Hill High School was a Community Choice winner for Smart Snack
By PRESS OFFICER
Real Food for Kids
WHAT: Student chefs from across the Washington region competed in the 14th Annual Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge, a student-led, work-based learning competition that mirrors real-world school nutrition programs.
Middle and high school teams developed original recipes specifically designed for school cafeterias, working within strict guidelines around cost, nutrition standards, scalability, and USDA compliance. Students presented their dishes to a panel of leading local chefs and school nutrition professionals, with winning recipes recognized for their creativity, flavor, and feasibility for school menus.
Many Culinary Challenge recipes go on to be adapted for real school meal programs, giving students a direct role in shaping healthier cafeteria food.
WHO: 2026 Culinary Challenge Winners—Lunch Category
1st Place: Potomac Middle School (Prince William County Public Schools)
• Teachers/Advisors: Cassey Jones and Ashley Ellison
• Winning Dish: BBQ Tofu Sliders and Strawberry Fields Salad with Chickpeas and Vinaigrette
2nd Place: Lightridge High School (Loudoun County Public Schools)
• Teachers/Advisors: Kelsy Zaremski and Maria Gore
• Winning Dish: Cauliflower and White Bean al Pastor Tacos
3rd Place: Luther Jackson Middle School (Fairfax County Public Schools)
• Teacher/Advisor: Neha Mathur
• Winning Dish: Zesty, Zingy, Zen Bites over Rice, Crunchy Cukes, and Pearls of Sunshine
Community Choice Awards
Smart Snack Winner: Oxon Hill High School (Prince George’s County Public Schools)
• Teacher/Advisor: Julie Onwonga
• Winning Dish: Tropi-Berry Cup
Breakfast Winner: Freedom High School (Prince William County Public Schools)
• Teacher/Advisor: Terri Benedict
• Winning Dish: Eagle Harvest Rollups
Judges & Event Leadership
• Event Chair: Chef Kevin Tien, Moon Rabbit
• Culinary Mentor: Ype Von Hengst, Co-Founder and Chef, Silver Diner
2026 Judges:
• Jamie Leeds, Founder, Hank’s Oyster Bar + Hank’s Pasta Bar
• Paolo Dungca, Executive Chef and Owner, Kayu
• Matt Adler, Chef-Partner, Caruso’s Grocery + Osteria Morini
• Robbie Reyes, Executive Chef, Lucky Danger
• Alex Levin, Executive Chef, Sidwell Friends School
• Sara Bennett, Director of School and Community Nutrition Programs, Virginia Department of Education
• Sydney Ide, 2025 Culinary Challenge First-Place Winner, Herndon High School
WHEN: February 28, 2026
WHERE: Hayfield Secondary School, Alexandria, Virginia
WHY: The Culinary Challenge brings together students, educators, chefs, and school nutrition leaders to redesign what school meals can be. By working within the same constraints faced by school districts, including nutrition standards, cost limits, and large-scale preparation, students gain hands-on experience designing meals that are both healthy and practical for cafeterias.
Since launching in 2012, the Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge has empowered hundreds of students across the DMV to reimagine school food as nutritious, culturally diverse, and student-driven.
Real Food for Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of school meals by bringing students, school nutrition professionals, and chefs together to create healthier, scratch-cooked meals that work in real cafeterias across the Washington region. Learn more about our work at https://www.realfoodforkids.org/. You can also follow along at https://www.instagram.com/realfoodforkids.
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REALTORS® Recognize Excellence in Sales Production and Service
By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR)
Landover, Md. (March 20, 2026)—On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR) recognized its “Top Producer” REALTOR® members for their 2025 sales production. The winners were honored at a gala event held at Martins Crosswinds in Greenbelt. Maryland.
The 2026 Awards Showcase stands as the Association’s foremost acknowledgment of exceptional agent performance throughout the entirety of 2025. Preceding the event were exclusive red-carpet interviews with attendees, broadcasted live on Facebook, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17oTQco7j9/
Approximately 140 County REALTORS® received awards recognizing their “personal best” in sales production.
Taking home the top prize of the evening, First Place Platinum Individual General Brokerage, was Hazel Shakur of REDFIN, with $46.2 million in sales activity. Placing first in the Platinum Team Competition was GK Legacy Group with Keller Williams Preferred Properties with $43 million in team sales production.
Lisa Brooks of Keller Williams Preferred Properties was named the 2025 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR for Highest Sales Volume at $1.5 million.
In acknowledgment of her decade’s long dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts in chairing committees and rallying support for our political endeavors, REALTOR® Veera Phillips, of Keller Williams Preferred Properties, was honored with the esteemed 2025 Distinguished Service Award.
The prestigious title of Distinguished Sales Associate of the Year was awarded to Arnita Greene of Compass Real Estate in recognition of her leadership of PGCAR’s Young Professionals Network and other invaluable contributions to PGCAR.
Clinton Thompson with Interstate Moving and Storage was named Affiliate of the Year in recognition of his industry support, exceptional professional acumen, and many contributions to PGCAR in 2025.
PGCAR’s REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) Hall of Fame inductees are 2021 President, Shameeka Price, 2022 PGCAR President, Melanie Gamble, Pamela D. Jenkins and DeAnne Sutton. They were honored for their cumulative RPAC contributions exceeding $7500.
Host of the event, Leisel Taylor, Chairwoman of the Awards Committee was excited. “2025 tested the industry, but REALTORS proved their strength—showing up, staying committed, and delivering for their clients every step of the way.” said Taylor.
Thank you to our numerous sponsors who helped make the evening a resounding success.
Top Winners Included:
Individual General Brokerage—Platinum (Over $12 million):
#1. Hazel Shakur—$46.2 Million
#2. Wemmy Collins—$38.8 Million
#3. Tracy Goins—$38.3 Million
Team General Brokerage—Platinum (Over $15 million):
#1. GK Legacy Group—$43 Million
#2. The Franklin-Anderson Group—$40.8 Million
#3. DAPO GROUP—$22.1 Million
Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR) is the voice for REALTORS® in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Representing more than 3,500 real estate professionals in the national capital area, PGCAR is an affiliate of the Maryland and National Association of REALTORS®. We are proud to serve our members and our community, and work to ensure professionalism in the industry. Our volunteers and staff work to offer services to real estate professionals and to provide avenues for our members to become more successful. We proudly work to promote and protect homeownership and private property rights.
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The Arc Prince George’s County Partners With Uber to Tackle Hidden Crisis:
People With Disabilities Struggling to Get to Work and Care
Uber for Business credits will help remove one of the biggest barriers to independence: getting where you need to go
By PRESS OFFICER
The Arc Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County, Md. (March 23, 2026)—In a move aimed at breaking down one of the most persistent barriers faced by people with disabilities—reliable transportation—The Arc Prince George’s County has announced a new partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. to expand mobility and independence for the people it supports.
Through this partnership, Uber is providing free rides to help individuals access critical services, employment opportunities, medical appointments, and community activities.
For many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, transportation is not just a convenience—it’s the difference between isolation and opportunity.
“This partnership is about more than rides—it’s about access, dignity, and independence,” said Rob Malone, President & CEO, at The Arc Prince George’s County. “Too often, the people we support face limited or unreliable transportation options. Uber’s support helps us close that gap and open doors to opportunity.”
Transportation remains one of the top barriers to employment and community inclusion for people with disabilities. Missed rides can mean missed job shifts, delayed healthcare, or lost chances to participate in everyday life.
This initiative comes at a critical time, as disability service providers face increasing pressure from funding challenges and workforce shortages—making flexible, on-demand solutions like Uber more important than ever.
The Uber credits will be used strategically to support individuals in moments that matter most, including:
• Getting to and from jobs and job interviews
• Attending medical and behavioral health appointments
• Participating in community activities and social events
• Accessing essential services when traditional transportation is unavailable
“Transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to living a full life,” said LáVita Gardner, Public Policy & Communications Manager at Uber. “We’re proud to support The Arc Prince George’s County in helping more people move freely and access their everyday needs.”
In 2027, The Arc of Prince George’s County marks 75 years of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families honoring the people, progress, and persistence that have shaped our work since 1951. The Arc Prince George’s County legacy and commitment is showing what equity and inclusion looks like in real life by celebrating where we’ve been, recognizing the community that made it possible, and reaffirming our belief that everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and belonging.
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