York College Student Wins National Sodexo Sweepstakes, Donates $1,250 Prize to Spartan Food Pantry

Leah Taylor ‘27, a York College of Pennsylvania student majoring in Electrical Engineering, has been named one of ten national winners in Sodexo’s “Slay the Day Sweepstakes.” The random selection grants Taylor the opportunity to make a $1,250 donation to a food-related cause of her choice, alongside a $575 Visa® gift card for a personal day trip. 

Taylor, who entered the sweepstakes after seeing a promotional post in the Johnson Dining Hall and receiving a follow-up email, was stunned to learn she had won. "I was really surprised! I’m sure a lot of people put their name in. I’ve never won anything this big before," Taylor remarked. 

Taylor chose the Spartan Food Pantry at York College for her $1,250 donation. Her decision was rooted in a desire to support her immediate campus community. "I know a lot of college students use it. I feel like since I’m part of York, I want to help the community," she said. 

The donation comes at a critical time for the Spartan Food Pantry. The funds will be utilized at the start of the upcoming school year to restock the pantry with essential non-perishable food items. 

“We are honored to be awarded this money and touched that Leah thought of us,” said Alex Hernandez-Siegel, Director of Student Culture and Belonging and Spiritual Life. “$1,250 goes a long way in a food pantry like this. We are excited to see what the new school year will bring.” 

As for her $575 day trip, Taylor says she’s still deciding how to spend the money and where to go.

The "Slay the Day Sweepstakes" was part of Sodexo’s spring resident dining promotion series, featured at more than 600 Sodexo-managed colleges and universities across the United States. The initiative aimed to engage students through a variety of campus events while providing a platform for national charitable giving.