Karla Maria Cabrera Lopez
Commission on Dietetic Registration Expanding the Reach of Dietetics Scholarship
Completing a Dietetic Internship and Graduate Program, Komplete Business Dietetic Internship at Middle Tennessee State University
| “This scholarship is incredibly significant to me as it has come at a crucial time when financial constraints could have derailed my path to becoming a Registered Dietitian, my ultimate goal in the nutrition field. Being selected as a recipient is a great privilege, as it enables me to support my education while fully dedicating my time to supervised practice. Upon completing this program, I am confident in my ability to become an advocate and mentor for future students, either through donations or as a preceptor.” |
How did you learn about the availability of Foundation scholarships and what motivated you to apply?
As a member of the Academy, I received emails about the scholarship, and I also heard about it from one of my classmates while we were discussing the requirement for a Master's degree and how it could potentially hinder my further education. However, I never thought I would be fortunate enough to receive one, which discouraged me from applying.
This year, the idea of giving up due to financial burdens became more real, and I thought, "Well, it's better to try and fail than to regret not trying," which has been my motto this year. For that reason, I applied.
Completing the application was a scary process, too, because I had to reach out to people to write recommendation letters for me. Despite being a dedicated and networking student, I had doubts about whether people would want to recommend me for this award. I had to get out of my comfort zone and make the request, realizing how much faith other people had in me.
From now on, I have decided to stop doubting myself and my ability to earn a memorable spot in the field of nutrition. I will continue working and growing for it every day.
Describe the financial impact that this scholarship will have on your educational journey this year.
Without this scholarship, I would not be able to continue my education. I am dedicated full-time to my Dietetic Internship and MPS. Both of these programs are greatly significant because they will provide me with the tools to become an RDN. The requirement for a Master's degree, which was implemented just a year before I completed my DPD, took me by surprise. That's when I realized I needed to reach out for resources; the Academy's scholarship was my first thought, as I have personally witnessed their care for professional development. I would not be able to continue without this assistance.
What advice do you have for other students and professionals who are considering applying for Foundation funding?
Just do it!
As I mentioned before, I have doubted myself so many times that I cannot even count them on my fingers. However, in the past year, as I have grown both personally and professionally, I have learned that I do not need to be perfect to be considered valuable.
I believe that everyone's experiences are valuable and should be recognized. That's why organizations like the Academy make efforts to support current and future professionals in the field of nutrition. I encourage everyone to apply and show the Foundation's selection committee why we are in this field.
Many times, we feel that our achievements and current goals are just like everyone else's, but that is not the case. We are all individuals, and we all have something valuable to offer the world of nutrition. Our individuality can make a difference in whether we receive funding or not. Therefore, I say, do not keep it to yourself; share it with the Foundation, as they are always looking for prepared individuals who can provide value to the world of nutrition with their unique qualities.
So, apply now and do not regret not doing it in the future.
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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