Foundation Blog Posts

Prajakta Khare-Ranade - 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Diversity Scholarship

posted 10 days ago
Prajakta Khare-Ranade, MSc, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Diversity Scholarship Completing a Doctoral Program at University of Missouri, St. Louis “Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Diversity Scholarship will play an important role in reducing the financial burden and will help me complete my doctoral degree in Adult Education (Ed. D) in a timely manner. As an Ed. D student, I will be working with my team members who are Occupational Therapists on a group dissertation to understand the value of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice through lived experiences of health care faculty members. ...

Catherine Murtha - 2022 Venesa W. Strong Memorial Scholarship

posted 17 days ago
Catherine Murtha, MAT 2022 Venesa W. Strong Memorial Scholarship Completing a Dietetic Internship at University of California Berkeley Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway “Changing my career from teaching to dietetics has been one of the most fulfilling decisions of my life. It was scary in the beginning, however. I had a very stable and rewarding job in the public education sector, but I felt like there was more out there for me in this field. Going back to complete my DPD requirements was inspiring and humbling, and has reaffirmed my decision. Paying for my DPD requirements drained my savings, and when it came time to pay for my dietetic ...

March 2023 Monthly Message

posted 19 days ago
March Means National Nutrition Month! For food and nutrition professionals, March means the celebration of National Nutrition Month ® ! This year’s theme is Fuel for the Future . The focus is on providing the body with the nutrients it needs to meet each life stage in tasty ways while also eating with sustainability in mind to protect the environment. During National Nutrition Month in March, our Academy puts a spotlight on the value of RDN’s and will be celebrating Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day on March 8 and Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered Day on March 9. To help you get the word out about these great events, the Academy has assembled ...

Academy Foundation Fellow, Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, Receives Distinguished Award

posted 24 days ago
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Fellow, Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, MSc, PhD, has received a 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for her contribution to help meet the challenges of food security and advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger. This SDG focuses on agricultural productivity and sustainable food production. Gabriela is the Foundation’s Early Complementary Feeding of Eggs in Rural Guatemala Foundation Fellow and is one of seven scientists to receive this award. Gabriela is a nutrition researcher whose work contributes to strengthen primary ...
 
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Thomas Moses - 2022 Colonel Katharine E. Manchester Scholarship Recipient

posted 02-17-2023
Thomas Moses 2022 Colonel Katharine E. Manchester Scholarship Completing a Concurrent Graduate Program and Dietetic Internship at University of North Carolina Greensboro “Receiving this scholarship will allow me to truly focus on my academic goals instead of worrying about working to pay bills and necessary expenses. I am grateful for the scholarship to provide the opportunity for me to live, let go, and learn. My financial burdens have decreased and inversely increased my confidence to meet my educational and career goals.” How did you learn about the availability of the Foundation scholarship that you received? I learned ...

February 2023 Monthly Message

posted 02-10-2023
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access! We’re hearing these words with increasing frequency…and importantly so. At the Academy Foundation , we intentionally and actively integrate the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I-D-E-A) into our efforts (as has the Academy at-large). In this February monthly message, I’ll share how our Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is achieving this goal. Let’s start with our scholarship program. Our Foundation awarded a record amount of scholarship funding, $860,250, to 309 deserving students for the 2022-23 academic year. This included $555,200 in scholarships to 180 recipients of diverse ...

Jodie Davis, MS - 2022 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship Recipient

posted 02-10-2023
Jodie Davis, MS 2022 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship Completing a Dietetic Internship at University of Michigan School of Public Health Dietetic Internship “Being a recipient of the 2022 Advancing Diversity in Dietetics Scholarship will help me achieve my goals of becoming a registered dietitian and evoking change in lower-income communities of color in the United States. My goal is to develop a nutrition education curriculum that's adaptable to different cultures and a coaching program for educators to learn how to adapt it to their specific communities. This curriculum will be implemented nationwide in schools and modeled ...

Remembering Joncier Greene during Black History Month: Her Legacy and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

posted 02-08-2023
In honor of Black History Month, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation celebrates pioneers who have made a lasting impact. Joncier Greene, MS, RD was a trailblazer within the nutrition and dietetics profession. As an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics member for 29 years, she served in several leadership capacities at the local and national levels, including President of the DC Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics . She was also a founding member and Chair of the Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group and the National Advisory Council of the Academy from 1978-1981. In 1985, Greene was awarded the Academy’s highest honor, the Medallion Award . ...
 
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Kristen Nyampong - 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship Recipient

posted 02-03-2023
Kristen Nyampong 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship Completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics at Texas Christian University “This generous contribution towards my education from the Foundation will help me progress toward becoming a Registered Dietitian. It may sound funny, but at times this goal of mine although essential for many dietetic students feels somewhat distant. With the rising cost of tuition, it's been very hard to envision me as a future Eating Disorder Dietitian. But this goal feels ever more purposeful and promising for my future. I hope to help those among the Black, Indigenous, and People of ...

Terry Brown, MBA, MPH, RD, LD, CNSC - 2022 Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford Dietetic Scholarship Recipient

posted 01-26-2023
Terry Brown, MBA, MPH, RD, LD, CNSC 2022 Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford Dietetic Scholarship Completing a Doctoral Program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey “The Dr. Mary Ruth Bedford Dietetic Scholarship is a tremendous honor. The funds will allow me to pursue my life-long dream of getting a doctorate in clinical nutrition. This would make me the first person in my immediate family to achieve this goal. In addition, I hope my success and achievements will inspire my Medical City Healthcare dietetic interns as well as other BIPOC students to follow in my footsteps and achieve their goals. Through the generosity of others, belief in oneself, ...

Lauren Ordemann - 2022 Irene J. Jones Memorial Scholarship Recipient

posted 01-20-2023
Lauren Ordemann 2022 Irene J. Jones Memorial Scholarship Completing a Concurrent Graduate Program and Dietetic Internship at University of Alabama and Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center Internship “As many of us know, the path to becoming a registered dietitian is a worthy investment. Receiving a generous scholarship from the Foundation not only made me realize that my hardwork is finally paying off, but it helped me with offsetting some of the costs associated with graduate school. I am so grateful to be both a scholarship recipient and a proud member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as this organization truly cares about supporting ...

Ameerah Nashea Stewart, MS, DTR - 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Diversity Scholarship

posted 01-13-2023
Ameerah Nashea Stewart, MS, DTR 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Diversity Scholarship Completing a Dietetic Internship at Edward Hines Junior Veterans Affairs Dietetic Internship “The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Diversity scholarship will allow me to achieve my goals to not only become a dietitian but also to show other women of color that while the road is difficult, we are supported in this field and can make a difference in our own way. I hope by receiving this award that I can show all future dietitians that making the leap to move and getting out of your comfort zone is absolutely worth it to support our field ...

Casey L. Hand - 2022 Edward W. and Lena B. Winslow Memorial Scholarship Recipient

posted 01-06-2023
Casey L. Hand 2022 Edward W. and Lena B. Winslow Memorial Scholarship Completing a Concurrent Graduate Program and Dietetic Internship at Ball State University “Receiving this scholarship from the Foundation allows me to finish my internship and master's degree without having to worry about my finances. The scholarships I have been awarded by the Foundation have truly been life changing for me.” How did you learn about the availability of the Foundation scholarship that you received? I have been a student Academy member since 2019 and was a student liaison for one school year. I receive and read all of the Academy emails ...

Cicely Thomas, MEd, RDN, LD - 2022 Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship Recipient

posted 12-30-2022
Cicely Thomas, MEd, RDN, LD 2022 Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship Completing a Doctoral Program at University of North Florida “In all of my years of formal education, I have never received a scholarship. Applying for this scholarship was my last attempt to cross the finish line. Actually, when I applied I had no vision of being a recipient. I was desperate because I could not afford to pay for my predissertation course and financial aid was not available for one course. After arranging a payment plan, I finally paid the last of the debt off for that one course within the last month of the semester. As a mother of four, ...

Alyssia Goss - 2022 Texas Association of Local WIC Directors Scholarship Recipient

posted 12-23-2022
Alyssia Goss 2022 Texas Association of Local WIC Directors Scholarship Completing a Dietetic Internship at Keith and Associates Distance Dietetic Internship “I always assumed that everyone knew about the Foundation's Scholarship Program, that everyone applied for the scholarships there, and that I had no chance of winning. Just apply! The work you put into the scholarship is nothing compared to the joy and relief you feel if you do receive some funding. If you feel stumped about applying, think of how everyone else feels. You have a chance, but only if you apply! Receiving this scholarship will help me achieve my goals because I can focus ...

Laura Lizet Vizcaino Ruiz - 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship Recipient

posted 12-23-2022
Laura Lizet Vizcaino Ruiz 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship Completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics at Texas Woman's University “I am a post-baccalaureate student. My first undergraduate degree was in Nutrition, but I didn't practice that much because I decided to invest all my time and attention in raising my three children. Nutrition as a science evolved considerably during those almost 30 years. That is why it was convenient for me to return to school to resume my journey to becoming a dietitian. So, I am trying my best to study and do coursework and keep caring for my youngest daughter and our home. But I was ...

January 2023 Monthly Message

posted 12-22-2022
Happy New Year! On behalf of our Foundation Board of Directors and staff, I want to wish you a happy, healthy and successful 2023! We, at the Foundation look forward to another year in which we support the lives of hundreds of Academy members through scholarships, awards and research grants with the help of your generous support.  Our Foundation’s 2023 Award and Research Grant applications are now open. I strongly encourage you to check out the many opportunities to enrich your career. There are awards for students as well as seasoned professionals such as continuing education, recognition, international and program development. Unless otherwise indicated, ...

Donald A. Lamb, PhD - 2022 Commission on Dietetic Registration Diversity Scholarship Recipient

posted 12-16-2022
Donald A. Lamb, PhD 2022 Commission on Dietetic Registration Diversity Scholarship Completing a Dietetic Internship at Utah State University “Decide what to be and go be it," these simple words are likely the most influential I have heard, and the message they convey has been instrumental in my decision to first return to graduate school for a doctorate and now to complete my dietetic internship. For years my goal has been to serve as an educator and mentor for students and aspiring nutrition professionals. At times I felt close to achieving this goal, but, as of yet, I have not. Still, I remain hopeful that continuing my education, expanding ...

December 2022 Monthly Message

posted 12-13-2022
During this time of giving thanks, I want to thank everyone who gives back to our Foundation. You do this when you support one of our initiatives with a donation or you volunteer on behalf of our Foundation on a committee or through your affiliate. Due to all the support we receive from Academy members,  we can impact the lives of thousands of food and nutrition professionals each year with scholarships, awards, research grants, fellowships, public nutrition education programs and disaster relief efforts. Just recently, we launched our Dollar by Dollar, Scholar by Scholar campaign to share the stories of our scholarship, award and grant recipients. Each week, ...

Citlaly A. Aispuro - 2022 LaCroix Sparkling Water Scholarship Recipient

posted 12-09-2022
Citlaly A. Aispuro 2022 LaCroix Sparkling Water Scholarship Completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics at Arizona State University “I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation and to LaCroix Sparkling Water for the financial assistance and for believing in the future of nutrition! As a first-generation college student and returning to school after a decade of real-life experience to follow my true passion, pursuing my undergraduate degree has been nothing short of challenges and setbacks. Although I’ve faced many obstacles thus far, dropping out has never been an option and receiving ...