Sep. 22, 2015
CWU Student Recognized Among Future Dietetics Leaders
Central Washington University senior Tucker Reiley, from Moses Lake, is one of just 20 nationwide recipients of a $5,000 scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. The highly competitive Commission on Dietetic Registration Diversity Scholarship is made to identified future leaders of the dietetics profession.
“Being selected for this award is incredibly humbling and completely reinforces how I feel about what I’m studying,” Reiley says. “I’m set to have several challenging quarters this year and this endowment means I can more fully focus on school without needing to work as much. It’s also a massive dose of encouragement.”
His schedule is challenging because Reiley, 25, is a food science and nutrition major, specializing in dietetics, while also minoring in both chemistry and biology. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in either nutrition or exercise science and then become a registered dietitian. His preparation also includes volunteer work with CWU’s Peer Nutrition Education program. The distinct program makes available free, confidential and personalized nutrition education to all CWU students.
The Chicago-based Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation provides dietetic scholarships to students at all educational levels. It awarded 220 scholarships totaling $496,450 for the 2015-16 school year, according to Beth Labrador, the Foundation's development director.
Academy Foundation chair and registered dietician Jean Ragalie-Carr says, “The Foundation takes pride in that we are one of the largest providers of dietetics scholarships to these deserving individuals. The scholarship program assists future dietetics leaders by providing them with the financial support they need to pursue their dreams. It’s made possible through the generosity of individuals, associations, and corporations.”
CWU offers the only undergraduate Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics accredited food science and nutrition degree program at any public college or university in the state. More than 150 students are expected to be enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program fall quarter, taking classes leading to a degree in food science and nutrition, with specializations in nutrition and dietetics, and foods and nutrition. CWU also offers a master’s degree in nutrition.
In part, because of the nascent nature of the CWU program, the university recently received $4.3 million in state funding for design of an advanced, new nutrition, exercise, and health sciences facility.
Media contact: Robert Lowery, director of Radio Services and Integrated Communications, 509-963-1487, loweryr@cwu.edu
September 22, 2015