The Lasting Impact of Investing in Students
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Recently, I came across scholarship and award letters that I had saved from my years as an undergraduate student at Penn State. I had not looked at them in decades, but seeing them again brought back a deep sense of gratitude for the people who believed in me and helped make my education possible.
I paid my own way through college, so the scholarships and awards I received from Penn State and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (then the American Dietetic Association Foundation!) made a meaningful difference. My professors made sure I knew about the opportunities available and encouraged me to pursue them. Their dedication to student success, along with the generosity behind those scholarships, taught me something that has remained with me throughout my career: when others invest in your potential, you have both an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in those who come after you.
A scholarship provides important financial assistance, but its impact often extends far beyond the amount awarded. It tells a student that someone believes in their future. It offers encouragement during a demanding educational journey and helps make it possible for talented, committed individuals to enter and advance within our profession.
Today, the cost of becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist continues to rise. For some students, scholarship support can determine whether they are able to continue their education, complete their supervised practice, or take the next step toward beginning their careers. Each scholarship represents not only financial support, but also a vote of confidence in the knowledge, passion, and potential that student will bring to the profession and the communities they will serve.
Nearly 50 years after receiving Foundation scholarships as a student, it is deeply meaningful to now serve as Foundation Chair. My journey is a reminder that the impact of a gift can continue for decades. The support a student receives today may help shape a future practitioner, researcher, educator, volunteer leader, mentor, or donor who will create opportunities for many others.
As the Foundation celebrates its 60th anniversary, I am grateful for every donor, educator, volunteer, and mentor who has invested in a student’s future. I invite you to make a gift to the Foundation’s Scholarship Fund and help ensure that talented students are encouraged, supported, and empowered to carry this legacy forward.
Together, we can continue building a profession in which talented students are encouraged, supported, and empowered to carry this legacy forward.
Yours in health,
Eileen S. Myers, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND
2026-2027 Academy Foundation Chair
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