The McAllen ISD STRIDES Program is the inaugural winner of the Texas Restaurant Association’s Innovation in Excellence Award. The award serves to recognize individuals, groups or organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of culinary and hospitality education.

According to TRA, the award is a “celebration of those who have dedicated themselves to improving the education experience for both students and teachers and demonstrated a willingness to push boundaries in order to support the preparation of our workforce.”

McAllen ISD was among various winners of the recent 2023 Texas Restaurant Awards in Houston on July 9, honoring industry leaders from all across Texas.

“The Texas Restaurant Association congratulates all of the winners of this year’s Texas Restaurant Awards. Their hard work and dedication is truly inspiring, and we look forward to seeing even more success from these honorees in the years to come,” said Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D., President & CEO of the TRA and TRF. “The nominees and winners are a shining example of excellence in the Texas hospitality industry.”

The TRA is the nation’s largest restaurant association and represents the state’s $95 billion restaurant industry, which encompasses upwards of 55,000 locations and a workforce of over 1.4 million employees. For more than 30 years, the Texas Restaurant Awards are coveted by the state’s hospitality leaders.