Sara Sturm has found success working for AVI Food Systems at GHS.

Feeding more than 500 students every day can generate a lot of dishes.

But Sara Sturm, who runs the dish room at Granville High School, takes it in stride.

“Sara has proven to be a great team member in our facility,” said Jon Harbaugh, executive chef / resident director  of AVI Food Systems — which provides lunches for Granville Exempted Village Schools. “We can always count on her to be at work.”

Over the last three years, Sara, 24, has taken on all the dish washing responsibilities— which also include setting up and cleaning up and following sanitary procedures.

“Sara does a wonderful job at keeping her daily records and setting up her station,” Harbaugh said. “She’s a hard worker and is eager to jump at tasks at hand. She’s very polite and friendly with the staff and students here as well.”

Sara began her job search after graduating from Utica High School in 2014.

She received support from the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which connected her with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.

When she found the job opening at Granville High School online, she decided she wanted to apply.

“I was able to pick things up pretty quickly,” she said.

Over the years she’s gained confidence.

“I seem to be getting faster at doing the dishes,” she said. “Sometimes my coworkers help when it gets busy, but mostly it’s just me. All of my coworkers are really nice and some of the kids are really nice too.”

Sara said she enjoys keeping busy at work, but also enjoys having a few weeks off in the summer, when school is out, to go to movies and spend time with her boyfriend.

She enjoys traveling and purchasing souvenirs from the places she goes.

“I would like to go to Paris and Germany,” she said. “I’ll have to save up enough money.”