We are happy to announce the three students who have been selected for Utah’s Outstanding Student Awards from AND. Their names will appear in the September issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They will also receive a congratulatory letter and certificate from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Didactic Program: Elyce Megan Gamble
The outstanding student from a Didactic Program is Elyce Megan Gamble. Elyce is a student at Brigham Young University majoring in Dietetics. Elyce puts what she learns into practice as a dietary tech and as a nutrition consultant for BYU’s Women’s Services. She “stands out in her passion and actions to improve the nutrition health of others, in particular women.”
Elyce’s commitment to improving the health of others is also demonstrated in her volunteer work in Honduras providing health and nutrition education in Spanish to over 200 individuals.
The list of Elyce’s accomplishments is extensive. In addition to excelling academically, she’s been a member of the BYU’s Student Association, served as an anatomy teaching assistant, and is a member of multiple honor societies.
We have no doubt that Elyce will excel in whatever she pursues.
Coordinated Program: Kennedy Springer
The outstanding student from a Coordinated Program is Kennedy Springer. Kennedy is a second year student in the Coordinated Master’s Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Utah. Professors note “her strong communication skills and tremendous work ethic…in addition to a high level of maturity and professionalism.”
Kennedy balances a 4.0 GPA in graduate school with teaching assistant responsibilities, coaching volleyball, and a master’s thesis project conducted with Huntsman Cancer Institute entitled: “Metabolomic Profiles of Inflammatory and Insulinemic Dietary patterns and Endometrial Cancer.”
In addition to her impressive academic skills, she contributes to the community through various volunteer efforts including roles at St. Vincent De Paul Dining Hall, University of Utah Center of Community Nutrition, Wasatch Community Gardens, and the Rural Health Scholars organization.
Kennedy will pursue her dietetics career at the University of Washington in the Sports Nutrition Department where she has been selected as a CPSDA Gatorade SNIP fellow.
Kennedy is the epitome of a high-achieving student and a leader in the health sciences. We want to congratulate Kennedy as the Outstanding Student in a Coordinated program and wish her the best as she pursues her dietetics career.
Internship Program: Mckenna Jones
Mckenna Jones has been selected as the Outstanding Dietetics Student in a Dietetic Internship Program. Mckenna is completing her Internship through Brigham Young University. She is “pleasant, highly motivated, and autonomous…has a desire to learn and is open to all experiences in the internship even whey they may be difficult.”
She has been a teaching assistant for a number of courses. She is trusted for her judgment and follow-through on tasks. She is also working as a NICU dietary technician at a local hospital, serves as a research assistant, and was the BYU Student Dietetic Association Treasurer. Her volunteer experience includes interning for FoodSense SNAPed.
There is no doubt that as Mckenna enters this field, “she will be a successful dietitian and make meaningful contributions to the nutrition and dietetics field.”
Congratulations to each of the students for receiving the Outstanding Dietetic Student Award!
Note: All quotes come from nomination materials submitted to the UAND Scholarship and Awards Committee.