Helen S. Mitchell Graduate Scholarship

Mengling Cao

Mengling Cao

Mengling Cao is a second-year nutrition graduate student with a bachelor's degree in biology. She just finished her master's program with DPD here at UMass Amherst.  She believes nutrition plays a huge role in people's lives, yet it is still a developing field. She will be doing her dietetic internship this fall.

It is a great honor to receive the Helen S. Mitchell Scholarship, and I thank you for choosing me. It has been a great two years here at UMass, and I will never forget the help I received throughout my learning journey at UMass.

Rong Fan

Rong Fan

Rong Fan is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Nutrition at UMass Amherst. Rong’s research interest is in understanding dietary and therapeutic strategies that enhance brown adipose tissue energy expenditure to combat obesity and its associated metabolic complications. Her dissertation focuses on the effects of fish oil supplementation and heat treatment on post-menopausal obesity and metabolic health. Rong's short-term professional goal is to stay in academia, become a professor in nutrition, and conduct research that advances obesity studies while inspiring the next generation of graduate students. Ultimately, she aims to expand the field of obesity prevention by promoting a deep understanding of nutrition and obesity metabolism. Additionally, Rong enjoys reading, hiking, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen as she pursues a balanced lifestyle for health and wellness.

I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation for the scholarship and the incredible opportunity to pursue my career aspirations. Your support has been instrumental in guiding me toward a path of excellence and success in academia. Inspired by your generosity, I am determined to achieve my goals and, in turn, help and inspire others in the future.

Helen S. Mitchell Undergraduate Scholarship

Caroline Moran

Caroline Moran

Caroline Moran has just completed her bachelor’s degree in nutrition with a focus in Dietetics. She will be in the 4+1 MS in Nutrition program in Fall 2024. As an undergraduate student, Caroline worked as a teaching assistant for the Student Nutritionist Program, Nutrition 130, and as a peer advisor. Over the summer, she will become a co-researcher on a study advocating for summer lunch programs in upstate New York and is continuing a position at her local farmers’ market. Her goal is to become a Registered Dietitian with the hope of eventually starting a private practice. These aspirations align with her goal of dismantling dieting behaviors in the public and advocating for health at every size. She is filled with gratitude over being selected for the Helen S. Mitchell Scholarship and is eager to continue her education through the pursuit of a master’s degree.

It can take a community to foster just one person’s education, and it is incredibly inspiring to know that you have taken the initiative to continuously invest in students’ futures. Receiving this scholarship truly is an affirmation of the hard work I have put in over the past few years and provides motivation as I move ahead to obtain a master’s degree.

Peter L. Pellett Scholarship

Mengqi Duan

Mengqi Duan

Mengqi Duan is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Nutrition at UMass Amherst. She finished her master's in nutrition and epidemiology at the University at Buffalo, and undergraduate studies in Food Safety at the Northeast Agricultural University in China. Her research direction is mainly focusing on nutritional epidemiology. After graduation, she would like to stay in academia or start research and development in a nutraceutical company.

Thank you very much for your support and generosity in providing us with the opportunity and Peter L. Pellet Scholarship!

Yingxue Guan

Yingxue Guan

Yingxue Guan is a doctoral student in nutrition at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, specializing in the study of dietary influences on gut health. Her focused research is on the effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on colon cancer cells and the dietary impacts of mushrooms on gut health in mice. With the severity of gut-related problems, she chose to work in this field. Yingxue has complemented her studies with roles as a research and teaching assistant, demonstrating proficiency in experimental techniques and data analysis. She enjoys nature, hiking, and other sports hobbies. After graduation, she will continue research as a life-long career.

Thank you for your financial support. Your generosity not only assists me in achieving my academic goals but also inspires me to give back to the community. I aspire to one day provide the same support to other students, helping them reach their educational objectives as you have helped me.

Virginia A. Beal Graduate Scholarship

Yuanyuan Deng

Yuanyuan Deng

Yuanyuan Deng is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Nutrition program. Her hobbies include reading literary works and outdoor jogging. Yuanyuan’s research focuses on nutritional epidemiology and how consuming fruits and vegetables affects male reproductive health issues such as prostate and bladder cancers. After graduating from UMass, Yuanyuan hopes to work in the publishing industry, using books or mass media to educate the public and share interesting nutritional knowledge. These programs advocate consuming increased amounts of fruits as a preventive strategy to foster healthier eating habits and boost awareness among the general population.

The scholarship has been a source of pride and joy for my family. They are thrilled and proud of my achievements, and the financial support has provided them with a sense of relief. My goal is to make the most of my time at UMass, enjoying every moment as I work towards earning my Ph.D. I am committed to utilizing the resources and opportunities available here to achieve my dreams. In conclusion, your generosity has made a significant impact on my life and my academic journey. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate your support. Thank you for believing in me and helping me get closer to my goals.

Vi Vien Khoo

Vi Vien Khoo

Vivien Khoo is a doctoral candidate whose research focuses on the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and how it impacts a child’s neurocognitive outcome. Besides pursuing research, Vivien also enjoys cooking and hiking with her dog.

This fellowship not only provides much needed financial support but also affirms my research and academic pursuits. The support from this fellowship will allow me to focus on completing my studies and research. Thank you once again for your generous support for investing in my future. I am eager to uphold the stands of excellence associated with this prestigious fellowship. 

Judy Kim

Judy Kim

Judy Kim is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Nutrition where she conducts groundbreaking research on nutrition and metabolic disease studying how repeated weight cycling with a ketogenic diet affects weight maintenance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism. Also, she's exploring how dietary compounds like cranberry proanthocyanidin and esculetin impact neuronal regulation, energy metabolism, and the gut microbiome to counter these metabolic effects.

Receiving this scholarship is a great honor. It motivates me to continue striving for academic excellence. Your belief in my potential and your investment in my education have provided me with a renewed sense of confidence and determination. The Virginia A. Beal Graduate Fellowship enables me to focus more on my studies and engage in various opportunities that will enhance my educational experience.  I am committed to making the most of this opportunity.

Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship

Jenna Linehan

Jenna Linehan

Jenna Linehan is a recent UMass graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. As a member of the UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA) she has served as both treasurer and vice president. Additionally, she is a member of the Student Nutritionist Program where she leads one-on-one nutrition counseling sessions with students and faculty. On campus, Jenna worked for UMass Residential Life Student Services and is currently a Certified Pharmacy Technician at UHS Pharmacy. Upon graduation, Jenna is going to return to UMass for the accelerated 4+1 MS Nutrition program, and then venture into a dietetic internship in the pursuit of becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist. Jenna’s areas of interest include pediatric nutrition, intuitive eating, and general health and well-being.

I kindly thank you for your generosity and for seeing my potential in this field. One of the biggest reasons I chose this field was my desire to help people. I am thrilled to be one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I sincerely thank you for selecting me for this award. I hope to make you proud!

Therese (Tess) Patry

Therese Patry

Tess Patry recently graduated from the School of Public Health and Health Sciences majoring in nutrition and society. Since high school, Tess played various sports and always had an interest in exercise and health which sparked her enthusiasm for nutrition. She is deeply passionate about promoting health and wellness. During last winter break she was Content Marketing Manager for a nutritional initiative, Eat to Thrive, within a program called Real Kids Real Food. In this role, she created content strategies that aligned with the nutritional program goals, crafted presentations that educated children and adults on healthy eating habits, and promoted the program by engaging the target audience through multiple social media platforms.

This scholarship will help me to achieve the goals I have set for myself and ultimately make a positive change in our community’s health. Thank you once again for the generous donation. I greatly appreciate your kindness, which will help support my future career in the health industry.

Christiana Sheldon

Christiana Sheldon

Christiane Sheldon is a full-time student working full-time at Mercy Medical Center as a Nutrition Assistant. Christy has begun shadowing her supervisor and dietitians on their rounds. She made the Dean’s List for two semesters. Christy begins the 4 + 1 Accelerated Master's in Nutrition program at UMass Amherst in the Fall of 2024. Christy’s goal is to become a Registered Dietitian in a clinical setting.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for being selected as a recipient of the Virginia Beal Award. It is an honor which will greatly help fund my education expenses at UMass Amherst. Your support has not only eased the financial burden associated with pursuing my education, but it has also inspired me to continue to strive for excellence while focusing on my future goals. Thank you again for choosing me as a recipient of this prestigious scholarship. I am truly grateful for your generosity.