Brenda Reddy, NDTR
2022 Mead Johnson Nutrition Scholarship
Completing a Coordinated Graduate Program in Dietetics at Case Western Reserve University
| “Receiving this scholarship allows me to live my purpose. The debt-burden for dietitians without outside assistance is debilitating, especially for those of us who are career-changers and have more responsibilities to manage. My goal is help people have better health for a lifetime by avoiding chronic disease. In this way, I hope that my patients are able to live their purpose and contribute to society in a more meaningful way. I know the ripple effect from changing a few peoples' lives will have enormous impact.” |
How did you learn about the availability of the Foundation scholarship that you received?
Unfortunately, I did not hear about the scholarships available to me until graduate school. I only learned about them by being more active on the Academy website, connecting with DPGs, and seeking mentorship for guidance throughout my educational experience.
What motivated you to apply for a Foundation Scholarship?
I am struggling to pay my rent, car payment, and credit card bills during my internship and graduate education. Not only is the student loan debt-burden excessive, but the cost of living and forgoing an income for 18 months has been a struggle. I applied in hopes of getting any of this pressure relieved.
How will the scholarship funds help support your continued success within your educational program?
I may have dropped out of my program to work if I did not receive the scholarship. That would have greatly increased the time for me to achieve eligibility to sit for the RDN exam and complete graduate school.
What advice do you have for your colleagues about seeking out and applying for Foundation funding opportunities?
Think of the time you take to apply as "work," hopefully it will pay off financially as much as working would. I know it is hard to find the time in our busy schedules, try!
Scholarship and Award Application and Timeline Information
All applications and timelines for Foundation funding opportunities are made available electronically within the Foundation’s application portal. Generally, the scholarship applications are available from mid- February to mid-April, most award and grant applications are available from December to February, and fellowship opportunities are posted as they become available.
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With Your Help, We Can Do Even More
Our Foundation is the only charitable organization dedicated exclusively to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals by empowering them to help consumers live healthier lifestyles. Our Foundation does not receive any portion of member dues and is funded solely by donations. Please consider making a gift today to support our Make It a Million Scholarship Campaign that will help us to award one million dollars in scholarships annually to Academy members, students and dietetic interns at all levels of study.
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