2008 Woodie Awards
Student services celebrates grand opening of HIlltop Commons
Meghan Hayward
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
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Samples of some of the menu offerings were provided at the opening and guests could also take tours of the facility. Six different food options will now be available at Hilltop. The facility houses a European-style kitchen that allows the culinary team to cook more items at the request of students.
A variety of prizes, totaling approximately $1,300 were drawn for students who ate at the facility on Wednesday. The prizes included American Express gift cards, Tim Horton gift cards, Coleman beach chairs, a Coleman tent, Margaritas gift card, gift cards to the book store and Pat's Pizza gift cards.
About 2,000 students ate at the facility on Wednesday throughout all three meals.
Katherine Kittridge, associate director of dining services said they have received good feedback about the menu design and selections. She said the new facility has been a big hit.
"We are always striving to improve, and comments from students are taken very seriously," Kittridge said.
Funding for the project was provided by a revenue bond which is a loan taken out of dining services.
"I enjoy how the new Hilltop gives us the ability to bring the service out front and provide fresher, cooked-to-order food," Glenn Taylor, executive chief for Black Bear Dining said. "It now provides less cooking in the back and more in front of our customers."
Another change to the commons is an a la carte option which allows students to purchase food and take it outside of the facility. This feature will allow students to take their food on the patio, or those who are in a hurry can now bring their food with them.
Culinary assistant at Hilltop, Bruce Theriault said the circular design of the facility is one of its best new features. He said it provides students with more efficient service.
The Hilltop staff was recognized for all their efforts and hard work in opening up the new building. President Kennedy, Dean of Students Robert Dana, President of R.O.C. Justin Labonte and Dan Raih from Bruner/Cott, one of the architects, all spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the project.
Hilltop Commons was the first of all the UMaine commons to be completely reconstructed.
Taylor said this is a great time for the dining facility and that the school is dedicated to providing the best possible service to UMaine students.
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