Chef Vanagten Wins Inaugural National Spirit of Service Award

Mitch Vanagten, executive chef for UC Merced's Lakeside Catering, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Paul Fairbrook Spirit of Service Award, a national honor recognizing extraordinary leadership, mentorship and community impact in collegiate dining.

Presented by the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS), the award celebrates professionals who embody a deep commitment to service, a calling that has defined Vanagten's more than two decades at UC Merced and in the Central Valley.

In a social media post, Vanagten said he was "completely stunned" when his name was announced.

"I knew the caliber of the other finalists and had realistic expectations," he said. "So when my name was announced as the inaugural recipient, it's a moment I'll never forget."

The award is named for Paul Fairbrook, a Stockton native and campus dining legend. Author of several books and many articles on the topic, Fairbrook was also a founding member of NACUFS. He passed away in 2023.

Fairbrook's passion and dedication to the industry helped shape collegiate foodservice into what it is today, and it's that legacy that makes the recognition especially meaningful to the man known at UC Merced as "Chef Mitch.".

"Having spent more than two decades serving students and our community at UC Merced," Vanagten said, "it feels especially meaningful to receive an award honoring someone whose legacy was also rooted here in the Central Valley."