Mayer, Arizona, March 31, 2022 —Spring Ridge Academy was recently honored with the 2021 Golden Plate Award by the Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS).

The Golden Plate Awards recognize excellence in food safety in Yavapai County, Arizona. Established in 2004, the award is a joint effort between YCCHS, the Yavapai Count Food Safety Industry Council, and the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension Office. Spring Ridge’s food safety category is “complex,” the highest Golden Plate designation.

To qualify for a Golden Plate Award, the food establishment must have no critical violations on the quarterly YCCHS inspections for the previous year, implement a food safety plan, and have a person with an accepted and current manager-level food safety certificate. The award recognizes excellence in safety beyond meeting the minimum requirements of the Food Code.

“Healthy, safe food is critical for the healing and education of our students. We are so excited that our cooks have been honored for their hard work and commitment to a clean, safe environment,” said Dr. Erin Smith, Director of Operational Excellence. 

Spring Ridge is one of only 231 food establishments awarded and only one of 127 facilities with the complex food safety designation.  

Spring Ridge Academy, located 1.5 hours outside Phoenix, Arizona, serves biological females ages 13-17. Spring Ridge, founded in 1997 as a female and family-owned therapeutic boarding school, is licensed by the State of Arizona and accredited by the Joint Commission. In addition, Cognia accredits the academic program. Using evidence-based clinical modalities with a traditional rigorous college-prep curriculum, including fine and expressive arts and team sports, Spring Ridge has created a relationship-based setting that allows students’ emotional, relational, spiritual, intellectual, and physical growth.