MS-AND Awards

🌸 Celebrate Excellence in Mississippi! 🌸
We’re thrilled to highlight our Mississippi-Specific Awards honoring local leaders in dietetics. Nomination are collected annually for the following awards:

🌟 Magnolia Award
🌟 Outstanding Dietetics Educator of the Year

🎉 Spotlight on Academy Affiliate Awards 🎉
Recognizing the outstanding contributions of nutrition professionals in Mississippi! Nomination are collected annually for these prestigious awards:

🏆 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (RYDY)
🏆 Recognized Dietetic Technician of the Year (RDTY)
🏆 Emerging Leader Award (EDL)
🏆 Outstanding Dietitian Award (ODY)
🏆 Outstanding Dietetics Student Award (ODSA)

🗓️ Nominations are closed for 2025—don’t miss out on celebrating our local heroes in 2026!

2025 MS-AND AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to the 2025 MS-AND Award Winners!

Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award ~ Ashley F. Harris, MS, RD, SNS

Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award ~ Ambrea K. Davis, RD

Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award ~ Betsy Pennington, MS, RD, LD

Educator of the Year ~ Melinda Valliant, PhD, RD, LD – The University of Mississippi

Outstanding Dietetics Student Award ~ Colton Maslanka

Outstanding Dietetics Student Award ~ Tammy Allen, MPH 

Magnolia Award Recipient ~ Whitney Herring, MD, MPH

OUTSTANDING DIETITIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (ODY)

The purpose of the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award (ODY) is to recognize the professional contributions of a Mississippi Dietitian to the Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the profession of Dietetics.  The ODY recipient is published in a fall issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Criteria for Selection:

  1. Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  2. Demonstrates leadership to advance the profession of Dietetics in areas such as legislation, research, education, clinical dietetics, career guidance, public relations, community nutrition, or management.
  3. Active in the association in various aspects of leadership and service
  4. Noteworthy community service in nutrition/dietetics (such as speaking engagements, articles in newspapers, trade magazines, or other current reliable publications)
  5. Not previously selected for this award in current or any other state.

RECOGNIZED YOUNG DIETITIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (RYDY)

The purpose of the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award (RYDY) program is to recognize the competence and activities of younger dietitians in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (The Academy) and to encourage their continued participation in the Academy’s affairs.  This group will be an additional resource from which the leadership of the Academy will develop both at the district, state, and national levels.  In addition to publishing the list of RYDYs in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, each awardee will receive a formal certificate of recognition for the President of the Academy.

Criteria for Selection: 

  1. Member of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  2. Age limit as of March 4, 2024 deadline, 35 years or younger
  3. Active participation in the national, state or district association
  4. Not previously selected as a RYDY
  5. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population.
  6. Demonstrated leadership in areas such as legislation, research, education, and management either in the association, community, or through employment

EMERGING DIETETIC LEADER AWARD (EDL)

The Emerging Dietetics Leader Award recognizes the competence and activities of members, regardless of their age, who are at the beginning of their dietetics careers. Members who receive this honor support the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the public through demonstrating leadership in legislation, research, education, management and other areas related to the profession. 

Criteria for Selection:

  1. Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  2. Initial practice experience not less than 5 years and not greater than 10 years (Interrupted careers or time periods not in practice, are not to be considered or rationed into the 5-10 years of professional practice experience) 
  3. Active participation in the national, state, or district association for at least 5 years
  4. Not previously selected as an EDL
  5. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population.
  6. Demonstrated leadership, in areas such as legislation, research, education, and management, in the association, community, or employment.

MAGNOLIA AWARD

The purpose of the Magnolia Award is to recognize an individual outside the profession of dietetics that demonstrates outstanding interest, support, and contributions to the profession of dietetics.  

Criteria for Selection:

  1. An individual outside the profession of dietetics that demonstrated outstanding interest, support, and contributions to the profession of dietetics.
  2. One who has made significant contributions to human welfare through a profession other than dietetics.
  3. One who demonstrates good will through notable service in furthering the advancement of the profession of dietetics
  4. One who promotes nutrition in a manner supported by scientific evidence and sound nutritional fact.
  5. One who displays a keen interest in improving nutrition for all persons of all ages.

OUTSTANDING DIETETICS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

The purpose of the Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award is to recognize the teaching, mentoring, and leadership activities of faculty in ACEND®-accredited dietetics education programs. 

Eligibility

  • Nominees must be a current member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
  • Preceptors are not eligible for this award as there is a separate award given to Outstanding Preceptors.
  • Previous ODEA winners cannot be nominated for the same program award within 3 years of being granted the ODEA award. Educators can be nominated for an award for a different program type, if applicable.
  • Please contact Rachel Kelleher ([email protected]) for previous ODEA winners

Criteria for Selection of Outstanding Educators

  1. Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
  2. Educator, Program Director, or Dietetic Internship Preceptor in an ACEND®-accredited dietetics education program:
    1. Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) 
    2. Dietetic Internship (DI)
    3. Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
    4. Future Education Model (FEM)  
  3. Demonstrated Active Learning Strategy/ Student-centered Techniques
  4. Demonstrated Dietetics Mentoring Experience (Outside of role as faculty or director-not including current students/interns. Includes previous students/interns now considered professionals)
  5. Demonstrated leadership in Education and Dietetics; e.g., national, state, or district dietetic association activities, community service, honors received, scientific and professional presentations, publications, etc.

OUTSTANDING DIETETICS STUDENT OF THE YEAR

The purpose of the Outstanding Dietetics Student Award (ODSA) program is to recognize the emerging leadership and achievement of students in ACEND-accredited and approved dietetics education programs and encourage their participation in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Eligibility

  • Must be a student enrolled in ACEND-accredited dietetics education program (CP, DI, DPD, FEM, IDE/FDE).
  • Should demonstrate academic achievement as documented by letters from program faculty or preceptor.
  • Should display leadership and professional potential, e.g., honors, student dietetic association activities, community service activities, etc.
  • Please contact Rachel Kelleher ([email protected] ) for previous ODSA winners

Criteria for Selection of Outstanding Student

  1. Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as of January 1, 2024
  2. Student in an ACEND-accredited dietetics education program: 
    • Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) 
    • Dietetic Internship (DI) or
    • Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
    • Future Education Model (FEM)
    • International Dietetics Education/Foreign Dietitian Education (IDE/FDE)
  3. Demonstration of academic achievement 
  4. Demonstrate leadership and professional potential; e.g., honors, student dietetic association activities, community service activities, etc.

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