Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship
Sharon Bonsu (BS, Nutrition and Public Health Sciences)
Sharon Bonsu is a Nutrition and Public Health Sciences double major. She believes that food is a natural medicine and that a change in dietary regimens and lifestyle can improve the quality of life! By engaging in the public health field, however, she also acknowledges the struggles and disparities between populations. Sharon would like to combine her two interests from these fields with an overarching goal of helping others improve their own quality of life, no matter their background, through food being a first step. After graduating from UMass Amherst, Sharon plans to receive a master’s degree in nutrition from the 4+1 program, and then pursue a dietetics internship to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Outside of UMass and her education, Sharon enjoys cooking, taking outdoor walks, and traveling.
I am overjoyed to have been selected as a recipient and incredibly thankful for your kindness.
Your generous contribution helps me to continue my study, taking me one step closer to a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. As a recent nutrition graduate, I've developed a great enthusiasm for the study of nutrition from my education, and I truly feel that the subject can benefit everyone on the planet. If you had asked me a few years ago about my future job ambitions, I would have had no idea where to begin. Now, though, I can firmly state that I would love to work in an environment that provides nutritional education to those in need. I can safely state that getting this scholarship will help me achieve my goals. I intend to use this scholarship to boost my determination to succeed.
As a new scholarship recipient, I aspire to reciprocate the same generosity, selflessness, and thoughtfulness to another student in the future. Thank you once more for your generosity, and the significant impact you have made on me, to continue pursuing my passion.
Rachel Deng (BS, Nutrition)
Rachel Deng is graduating senior majoring in Nutrition at UMass Amherst. She is the middle child of three, born in Pennsylvania to two Chinese immigrants. Rachel grew up in an academics-focused household and developed an interest in the sciences early in her life, originally enrolling at UMass Amherst as a chemistry major then switching to what she sees as a more well-rounded, society-focused Nutrition degree. As an undergraduate, Rachel has had the opportunity to study preexisting and discover brand-new interests, including human anatomy, microbiology, marching band, organic chemistry, and CDL bus driving. When she's not proudly donning her lab coat in the Integrated Sciences Building on campus or in the driver's seat of a bus, she can be found developing and sharing baked good recipes with her friends or playing video games. Following her graduation in May 2023, Rachel is excited to take a year to continue working as a bus driver and radio operator for UMass Transit Services, where she has been employed since August of 2020. Since she completed her degree a year sooner than expected, she is taking a gap year before seeking higher education, either in healthcare or in research. Next year, she is excited to branch out career-wise into a more science-focused field; she is considering applying for a second job as a pharmacy technician, where she can continue working in the lab and developing her knowledge of science through studying pharmaceuticals.
Thank you to Virginia A. Beal scholarship donors for your generosity and kindness!
Shanazi Jackson (BS, Nutrition)
Shanazi Jackson is a senior nutrition major on the dietetics track. She is a first-generation college student who transferred to UMass from Bunker Hill Community College. She is a personal trainer for the UMass Rec Center, a Umass Disability Service Volunteer, and has been a part of many registered student organizations. Recently, Shanazi taught a cooking class to seniors of Hadley Senior Center with the goal of increasing vegetable intake and decreasing loneliness among seniors. She has a passion for community work and helping the people around her. Shanazi plans to work in community nutrition post-grad and has a long-term goal of owning a community center that provides nutrition and fitness services to low-income women and children in Boston.
I was so thrilled and honored to learn that I have been selected as a recipient of the Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship. Your support has not only eased the financial burden associated with pursuing my education but has also inspired and motivated me to continue striving for excellence.
Your generosity has not only impacted my academic journey but also my aspirations for the future. With your support, I am now more determined than before to make a meaningful contribution to my field of study and the community at large. I am confident that the knowledge and skills I acquired during my time at UMass will enable me to pursue my goals and ultimately give back to my community.
Your kindness and belief in my potential have truly made a difference in my life. I hope to honor your generosity by working hard, striving for excellence, and making the most of this opportunity. Thank you once again for the support and encouragement you have bestowed upon me.
Carolyn McHugh (BS, Nutrition)
Carolyn McHugh is from Duxbury, Massachusetts. Carolyn recently graduated from UMass Amherst with a major in Nutrition on the Dietetics track and a minor in Business. During the school year, she was Lead Peer Advisor for the Nutrition department. In this position, Carolyn coordinated activities to promote academic success for Nutrition students. Upon graduating, Carolyn plans to return to UMass to begin the Accelerated 4+1 MS Nutrition program. In the meantime, Carolyn will be working full-time as a Nutrition Coordinator at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA. After completing her MS, Carolyn hopes to apply for her dietetic internship in Boston to one day become a Registered Dietitian. She has experience working in research, clinical settings, and in private practice; all of which have equipped her with the knowledge and skills that will help further her education. Carolyn has interests in intuitive eating, HAES, and general health and wellness. Carolyn hopes to one day work in private practice to work closely with clients, helping them to improve their relationship with food and develop a positive outlook on their health.
I am so appreciative to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship. As a recent graduate of UMass Amherst with a major in Nutrition and a minor in Business, I am excited to continue my education at UMass to obtain my master's degree in nutrition. Thanks to this scholarship and your generous donation, my financial burden has been lightened, and I am now able to place a greater focus on my future education. This scholarship has motivated me to continue my hard work and someday give back to other students as you have done for me.
Adil Shahid (BS, Nutrition)
Adil Shahid is a senior at UMass Amherst majoring in Nutrition. He decided to switch to this major during his sophomore year, driven by his deep-rooted passion for promoting healthy eating and its profound impact on the human body. Adil's experiences, such as assisting his father in reducing soda consumption and working as a Student Nutritionist intern, have solidified his unwavering dedication to helping individuals lead healthier lives. He is committed to serving society by making a positive difference in nutrition. Looking forward, Adil eagerly seeks a full-time position in the healthcare or technology industry, where he can gain valuable practical experience and stay abreast of the latest advancements. In parallel, he plans to pursue a part-time master's degree in business analytics through Isenberg, aiming to enhance his skill set and explore the synergies between data analysis and healthcare. Adil's ultimate goal is to merge his passion for healthcare and technology to optimize patient outcomes and address health inequities on a broader scale.
I formally and humbly thank you for the Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship. I am finishing my senior year here at UMass as a nutrition major. Before this, I was a communications major until I realized my sophomore year that none of my classwork resonated with me, and then I researched about the major, and the rest is history. Switching to this major allowed me to continue my lifelong goal of impacting the world - or at least to make my corner of the world as bright as possible. There is no better way to do that than to use the knowledge I learned in this degree to help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
I would also like to reflect on a story before coming to UMass Amherst. In my first year specifically, I was at UMass Boston. I went from a very sheltered home with little to my name. I was immediately plagued with roommate issues, I couldn't find friends or a community, and financially my family was not in a good place. It was a miserable experience, so I considered not continuing my education. That's when Covid hit, and I decided to put in my transfer application here because my cousin raved about how he found his home here, so I thought, why not give it a shot? In the two years I have spent at Umass, I have been blessed with many opportunities to be involved. Whether that was through the Muslims Student Association, being a residential assistant, or being a student nutritionist. This and the lovely support from faculty, staff, and peers made me want to continue my journey. And I am happy to say that I did just that.
My time here has been nothing short of amazing, both on a personal level and a professional, and I will always be grateful for my time here. As I continue the next chapter of my life after graduation, I hope that UMass will still be in the picture as I plan to pursue a master's degree in business analytics part-time online through Isenberg. I will also start working full-time at eclinicalworks as a software trainer. I will continue to stand by my mission of impacting the healthcare industry through utilizing technologies.
The memories I have made, the support I have garnered, and the growth I made have been because of UMass. This scholarship is meaningful to me in multiple ways. It is a sign that all the work and sacrifice were worth it. Therefore I would like to thank the donors for the grateful opportunity presented to me. It truly has impacted my life and will continue to help open more doors for me in the future. Thanks to you; thank you very much.
Emily Woo (BS, Nutrition)
Emily Woo just graduated from UMass Amherst as an undergraduate majoring in nutrition (dietetics) and minoring in psychology. She was also a member of the Commonwealth Honors College and completed an honors thesis titled "Cook and Learn: school-based nutrition education for young children." She has enrolled in the 4+1 program in nutrition at UMass Amherst, so she will be getting my master’s degree in 2024. Emily was born and raised in Hong Kong, then moved to the US in 9th grade. She went to high school in Malden and moved to Melrose two years ago. She has an older brother who graduated from UMass Amherst two years ago as well. After that, she aims to get a dietetic internship and become a registered dietitian. Her interest is in child nutrition, and her ideal job is being a nutrition educator for kids and families in the community. Her short-term career goal is to be a pediatric dietitian in the hospital, which will help her gain more experience working with specific cases and patients. She is passionate about helping people to build a healthy relationship with food while having a balanced diet. On campus, she was the President of a Chinese yo-yo/ diabolo performing club called TASC. They also performed dragon dance. She was also a member of the UMass Nutrition Association (UMNA). She worked as a nutrition advisor at the Recreation Center and a student supervisor at Worcester Dining Commons. She was a research assistant for the New Moms Wellness Study from freshman year until junior year.
I would like to introduce myself as a recipient of the Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship and thank you for making it possible for me to receive this generous award. My senior year as a nutrition major student was hectic and challenging but also full of excitement and interesting learning experiences. I would like to share my experience as a nutrition advisor specifically because it is such an invaluable opportunity provided by UMass. I have been providing one-on-one advising sessions to help students reach their nutritional goals. This experience has trained my skills in motivational interviewing, communicating nutritional information to the public, and boosted my confidence.
Being in the Honors College required extra charges, so this scholarship helped alleviate my financial concern and allowed me to pursue the program with no hesitation. Through the process of developing my honors thesis, I conducted nutrition education lessons that involved nutrition education, introduction of cultural cuisines, and meal preparation for 4th-grade students. It was satisfying to observe the positive engagement of the participants and the results of improved nutritional knowledge and food acceptance.
This is my second summer working as an assistant for kids’ cooking classes that aim to encourage children to try new and healthy foods and open more options for them. This internship has allowed me to practice interacting with kids and helping kids build healthy relationships with food.
My experience at UMass Amherst has helped me grow as a person and in the field of nutrition. It is kind and thoughtful individuals like you who make me feel more secure in reaching my goals and pursuing an exceptional education at UMass. Thank you for your generosity in offering this scholarship to me. I will make sure I put all my effort into my academics and involvement at school during the rest of my master’s program.
Ani Kaleshian (BS, Nutrition) also received the Virginia A. Beal Undergraduate Scholarship.