By Elizabeth Holland
Colorado State University’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition awards many donor-supported scholarships each year. Students can apply for scholarships by logging into RAMweb to access the Colorado State University Scholarship Application (due March 1). Meet two of the nutrition scholarship recipients below.
Donald E. and Esther L. Harbison Memorial Scholarship recipient
Rachel Howell is an aspiring dietitian and senior studying nutrition and food science with a concentration in dietetics and nutrition management. Originally from Paso Robles, California, Howell moved to Fort Collins to pursue a degree in nutrition after learning about the Accredited Didactic Program here at CSU. Her interests in nutrition and business aligned perfectly with the dietetics and nutrition management concentration and she knew this was the perfect choice.
Howell is honored to be the recipient of the Donald E. and Esther L. Harbison Memorial Scholarship, awarded to non-traditional students or transfer students in the College of Health and Human Sciences. This scholarship has meant a great deal to Howell, especially in the challenging year of 2020. Howells said, “As I look forward to my graduation, in May 2021, with excitement and anticipation, I am also filled with gratitude that this scholarship helped me achieve my dream of earning a college degree and one day becoming a registered dietitian.”
Eva Floy Smith Wheeler Memorial Scholarship recipient
Violet Virnich, born and raised in Denver, studied French at the Denver Center for International Studies, Japanese with NGO Youth in Action, and ASL at the Community College of Denver before attending CSU. Virnich is a senior in the Honors Program studying nutrition and food science with a concentration in dietetics and nutrition management. Virnich did not want to leave her beloved state of Colorado and decided to attend CSU after touring the campus because she knew it was where she could follow her passion – nutrition.
Virnich is honored to be the recipient of the Eva Floy Smith Wheeler Memorial Scholarship awarded to seniors with a high GPA and leadership/community involvement in the nutrition field. She said, “The scholarship has already benefited me because it has allowed me to maintain my unpaid positions in a research lab within our department and an internship with a local holistic dietetic private practice – all while still pursuing my degree and maintaining honors status.”
Virnich’s future plans are to complete a dietetic internship and then pursue registered dietitian roles in the pediatrics or sports nutrition fields. Virnich said, “Especially during the unpredictable times of COVID, I want to thank the donors and this incredible department for their continual support, and for an incredible four years at CSU – Go Rams!”
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.