Benefits continue in second year of Ozarks Technical College's free breakfast program

Started during the pandemic, Eagle Breakfast continues to help Ozarks Technical Community College students. In the 2022-23 school year, the free breakfast program served 3,948 students across all OTC locations, according to the college.

Data from this past school year and the previous school year indicate a correlation between students receiving breakfast and academic success.

“The investment the college makes in Eagle Breakfast pays off in the success of our students,” said Joan Barrett, OTC vice chancellor for student affairs. “Whether a student is food insecure or just too busy to eat before they rush out the door for an early class, Eagle Breakfast benefits everyone.”

From 2021: Free breakfast program expands to all campuses at Ozarks Technical Community College

According to the press release, 90% of Eagle Breakfast participants completed their classes in the 2022-23 school year, while 83% of other OTC students completed their classes. The release also indicated that 82% of Eagle Breakfast participants achieved a C or better in all their courses, compared to 74% of other OTC students.

In the 2021-22 school year, 90% of Eagle Breakfast participants completed their classes compared to 81% of other OTC students and 85% of Eagle Breakfast participants achieved a C or better in all their courses compared to 80% of other OTC students.

OTC has served Eagle Breakfast at all its locations for two years, providing 77,990 breakfasts to 6,444 students.

Any student with an OTC identification card can receive certain free breakfast items without showing proof of income or other documentation.

In a 2021 News-Leader article, Barrett said often students' economic challenges do not disappear when they finish high school and enter college. Various studies have found that college students experience food insecurity at a higher rate than the general population and that food insecurity can harm college students' academic achievement.

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"Food insecurity is an issue for two- and four-year (college) students. It has always been there, we just know more now," Barrett said.

Other institutions also offer assistance to college students. Missouri State University offers its Bear Pantry, which provides food and hygiene items to students, faculty and staff. MSU also offers a list of food pantries with services available to students. Drury University currently works with students on a case-by-case basis, though Drury spokesperson Jasmine Cooper said an official program is "in the works."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC continues to see academic benefits with free breakfast program