Sitting in a Summit Lakes Middle School classroom on Veterans Day, seventh grader Haley Whitacre’s great-grandfather, Wilbur Stigler, shared an epiphany he recently had. Next month will mark 75 years since he landed in France to fight for the United States in World War II.

The Battle of the Brains bus rolled into the Summit Technology Academy parking lot shortly after noon. A group of engineering students were waiting for them, but the red carpet and silly string and competition swag and applause were for seven special students.

Helping Nutrition Services Director Lori Danella plan school lunch menus and participating in learning activities surrounding food (this month the group explored radishes) aren’t the only initiatives the Elementary Nutrition Council is tackling this year.