OUTSTANDING DIETETICS STUDENT AWARDS

2021 Outstanding Student in a Didactic Program in Dietetics

Eden Zachariah

Currently an undergraduate at Marshall University, Eden will graduate in May 2021: "She has a solid understanding of both nutrition and food science and is able to clearly articulate the importance of all food groups in a sustainable food system which supports overall health and well-being"

Eden has a variety of interests; she is a certified personal trainer at the MU Rec Center, has worked at the Martinsburg VAMC, and is an active volunteer

Eden is described as having excellent time management skills that help her balance school, work, and volunteering efforts

Her nomination notes: "Eden is one of the most well-rounded students I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. She is truly an excellent scholar."

2021 Outstanding Dietetic Intern

Regina (Gina) Valentino

A dietetic intern at Marshall University, Gina had remarkable support from the Department of Dietetics

Using the skills she learned in the Sound Bites Media training through WVAND, Gina developed messaging strategies, practiced her talking points, and delivered a Healthy Holiday Eating spot on WSAZ

Gina's work is described as "stellar,"" and her nomination noted that she works well with her classmates and encourages involvement with nutrition inside and outside the classroom

A note of her skill: "She is a one-of-a-kind student; one that I will probably never see again... Gina is one of the most dedicated dietetics students I have had the pleasure to work with"

Criteria and Procedures

AWARD WINNERS DUE TO THE ACADEMY BY MAY 1

The purpose of the Outstanding Dietetics Student Award program is to recognize the emerging leadership and achievement of students in ACEND-accredited dietetics education programs and encourage their participation in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A student from each type of education program within a state will be selected by each state association (a maximum of four per state).

In addition to publishing the list of outstanding students in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, each awardee will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate signed by the president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Criteria for Selection (Affiliates may develop more detailed criteria to meet their needs.)

  1. Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Students must be members by January 1st of the year in which they would receive the award. Students must supply their membership number; membership identification numbers will not be provided to a third party (i.e., educators).
  2. Student enrolled in ACEND-accredited dietetics education program (CP, DI, DPD, DT).
  3. Demonstrated academic achievement as documented by letters from program faculty or preceptor.
  4. Demonstrated leadership and professional potential; e.g., honors, student dietetic association activities, community service activities, etc.

Selection Procedure

  1. Nominations will be solicited from program faculty or preceptors by the affiliate association.
  2. Complete responsibility for the selection of the recipient rests with the affiliate association. The affiliate award chair, affiliate president, or person designated by the state should coordinate the process. Another state officer or person may be designated to coordinate award information/applications for the state if needed.
  3. A maximum of one student from each type of dietetics education program within the state may be selected by each state (maximum four). States may choose not to participate or to select fewer than the maximum number
    • Coordinated Program in Dietetics
    • Dietetic Internship
    • Didactic Program in Dietetics
    • Dietetic Technician Program

Submission to the Academy Procedure

  1. The affiliate award chair, affiliate president, or person designated by the state must submit award winners via electronic submission between December 1, 2016 - May 1, 2017.
    1. Required data includes:
      1. Awardee Name
      2. Awardee Credentials
      3. Awardee Academy Member ID number
      4. Awardee Institution
      5. Awardee Dietetics Education Program Type: CP, DI, DPD, DT
  2. Certificates will be electronically generated and mailed to the affiliate awards chair, affiliate president, or person designated by the state to then be distributed to the award winner by the affiliate.
  3. All other materials, include a duplicate copy of reference letters, should be retained by the affiliate

Award Recognition

  1. A certificate of recognition will be sent to the selectees together with a congratulatory letter from the President of the Academy.
  2. The list of recipients for the year will be published in a fall issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  3. State associations may wish to recognize awardees from their states at state meetings or in state publications.
  4. Publicity for affiliate recipients should be handled by the affiliate or district public relations chair.

Nomination Form (downloadable)

Nomination Form (online)

Please direct any questions to awards@eatrightwv.org.

Previous Awardees

Previous Awardees

D = Didadic Program, I = Internship Program
1996 Siming Jiang
1996 Laura Johnson
1997 Rebecca Sonle
1997 Angela Page
1998 Amy Merryman
1998 Brandy Whillington
1999 Camella McMillan
1999 Walter Gordan
2000 Andrea Cole
2000 Janda Miller
2001 Amanda Beach
2001 Amy Norman
2002 Suzanne Lycans
2002 Angela Fegan
2003 Norma Panuela
2003 Jill Kloss Spangler
2004 Jenni Jones
2004 Gentry Hammond
2005 Sarah Edwards
2006 Sarah Edwards
2007 Tim Bender
2007 Lisa Buchwald
2008 Mallory Evans
2008 Megan Govindan
2009 Jennifer Eiselt
2010 Jenna Brobst
2001 Branna Wojtaszek
2012 Corey Buell
2012 Keith Pearson
2013 Kate Reed
2014 Tonya Davis
2015 Christina Gayheart-Nelson (D)
2016 Karina Walker (I)
2017 Jessica Walden (D)
2018 Heather Hardyman (D)
2018 Sarah Gillette (I)
2019 Olivia (Wen Xin) Yeow (D)
2019 Rachel Newman (I)
202 Sydney Mangialetti (D)
2020 Lindsay Swartz (I)
2021 Eden Zachariah (D)
2021 Regina (Gina) Valentino (I)