Food Studies Awards
Chef’s Prize
Awarded to a Food Studies major who demonstrates exceptional ability in the culinary arts. This ability includes attaining food justice and community engagement goals of the Food Studies Program.
Recipient: Rachel Kowarsky
Rachel came to Syracuse University as a transfer student from California. Through her interest in food and nutrition, she stepped up to become a lab assistant in our teaching kitchens sharing her knowledge with other students as she expanded her own culinary experience. Rachel has completed her practicum working with Plum and Mule: a food hub working to create equitable access to local foods. Rachel continues exploring her interest in food systems in the area of logistics and procurement.
Food Justice Award
The Graduate Research Excellence award is given to a graduating student who has been extensively involved in research during their graduate studies, excelling in originality, creativity, and significance of their work. Students are selected based on their overall involvement in research, including collection of data, presentation of research at conferences, preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts for publication, and impact of their work.
Recipient: Alexandra Brooks
Alexandra grew up in Syracuse and is a passionate advocate for food justice in the city. She has dedicated her practicum requirement to working with Meals on Wheels on behalf of persons—mostly older adults, as well as those of all ages who are post-hospitalization—who are temporarily or permanently without the mobility to access food on their own. Additionally, she has taken an active part on the local organizing committee for the National Right to Food Community of Practice’s June 4-5 Right to Food Summit. This national meeting will include a focus on Syracuse food system inequities and Alexandra has tirelessly worked to bring together diverse community actors to participate.
Community Engagement Award
Awarded to a Food Studies major who demonstrates the ability to create or implement progressive food-based initiatives that engage diverse politics locally, nationally, or internationally.
Recipient: Justus Selah Holden-Betts
Justus is an accomplished track athlete. She brings the same level of energy to her studies. Justus is completing a double major in food studies and environment, sustainability, and policy. As a food studies major, Justus held the position of garden manager at our campus community garden where she successfully planted and tended to over 800 square feet of ground garden and eight ADA accessible raised beds. She also educated many tour groups throughout the season and facilitated garden volunteer hours. Continuing beyond this experience, Justus completed her internship with Syracuse University Sustainability Management focusing on the infrastructure of our two on-campus food pantries. Justus has come full circle at Syracuse University. She began as a nutrition major, switched to food studies and is staying at Syracuse to pursue a graduate degree in nutrition science.
Culture and Commensality Award
Awarded to the Food Studies major who has expanded the Food Studies program to new audiences by sharing food knowledge and practice through social activism.
Recipient: Veronique Camille Wojcik
Commensality is “the experience of people coming together over food.” That definition fits Veronique in the ways she engages across campus. Veronique is often the first person one meets in the food studies suite. She is kind and thoughtful to everyone she encounters and makes sure to include everyone. She has completed her practicum with sustainability management on campus. Always working to bring people together, Veronique was responsible for promoting awareness of the south campus food pantry through the creation of digital and paper signage. She has been an ambassador for food studies throughout her tenure here at Syracuse University.
Food Studies Marshal, Undergraduate
Marshals lead their department in the academic procession and Falk College Convocation. They are chosen based on their academic achievements and service to their department and the Falk College.
Recipient: Jane Alexandra Morales-Pinto
From her first semester Jane took advantage of all that Syracuse University offered. She successfully completed two majors and a minor while working with admissions as a peer advisor. She has continued to mentor incoming students. She completed her practicum with Sustainability Management where she was instrumental in preparing seeds for this growing season and mapping Pete’s Giving Garden for best yields.
Research Award
Awarded to a Food Studies graduate who produces a research project and paper of exceptional quality. The paper should address substantial issues regarding the sustainability of the food system, including food justice, human rights or ecological, economic, and social impacts of food production, consumption, processing, and distribution.
Recipient: Frank Sarfo
Frank Sarfo’s master’s degree thesis looks at on how Central New York farmers are experiencing and adapting their operations to climate change. Frank also was awarded a Moynihan Graduate Studies grant to examine gender inequalities in the Ghanian cocoa industry as well as assisted with on Professor Minkoff-Zern’s research project looking at frontline food system labor and food policy councils. He will be continuing his research career next year as a Ph.D. student in sociology at Syracuse University.
Evan Weissman Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded in honor of Professor Evan L. Weissman, a tireless advocate for equity in the food system. It was created by his family to continue his legacy.
Recipient: Frank Sarfo
Frank’s thesis centers on how CNY farmers are experiencing and adapting their operations to climate change. He visited 11 farms in the area and interviewed farmers about their observations of changes in rainfall, pest complexes, and other production factors, as well as how they gathered and shared information. Frank also was awarded a Moynihan Graduate Studies grant to examine gender inequalities in the Ghanian cocoa industry. This project fits well with his academic orientation and personal and professional values. He plans to take the training and insights he has gained from his graduate studies to address serious issues in a fundamental industry in his home country. In the fall, Frank will begin his Ph.D. work in sociology at Syracuse University.
Recipient: Marguerite Leek
Marguerite Leek has worked on inequity in the food system since she grew up in western North Carolina. As a child she volunteered with the local food bank. As an undergraduate, she worked with her college administration on peer hunger issues. In the food studies program, she conducted a critical analysis of food banks across the country, questioning their role in contradictions inherent in chronic and growing national food insecurity. Additionally, Marguerite has worked on canopy and environmental justice issues at the root of the Syracuse Urban Food Forest Project as well as taking an internship with the Syracuse Onondaga Food System Alliance which Evan Weissman co-initiated.
Food Studies Marshal, Graduate
This scholarship is awarded in honor of Professor Evan L. Weissman, a tireless advocate for equity in the food system. It was created by his family to continue his legacy.
Recipient: Marguerite Leek
Marguerite Leek is a leader in the Food Studies program and on food justice issues in Syracuse University. She has completed a master’s thesis on rights based approaches in food banks across the U.S., engaged in environmental justice research with the Syracuse Urban Food Forest Project, interned with the Syracuse Onondaga Food System Alliance, and is the recipient of the Evan Weissman Food Studies scholarship. She models the kind of community engaged scholarship valued in the Food Studies program in Falk College.
Nutrition Science and Dietetics Awards
Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award in Nutrition Science
Faculty nominate worthy teaching or research candidates.
Recipient: Greta Smith
Greta has demonstrated outstanding performance as a graduate assistant over the past year. Although her program of study does not have a research requirement, Greta actively engages in research activities in addition to her exemplary work in supporting students, demonstrating a versatile skill set. Greta’s dedication to her teaching responsibilities and research endeavors exemplifies her remarkable work ethic and passion for meaningful contributions to the academic community.
Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Nutrition Science and Dietetics
Faculty nominate a graduate student for this award considering their scholarship, citizenship, work ethic and professional promise.
Recipient: Jenna Strickland
Jenna has shown remarkable dedication and leadership in various capacities, from excelling in her coursework to spearheading a new graduate student organization in nutrition science. Her exceptional academic achievements, in addition to her research responsibilities and an intensive nutrition internship with the Syracuse University football team, showcase her commitment to excellence in nutrition and embody the qualities of an outstanding graduate student deserving of recognition.
Nutrition Science and Dietetics Research Award, Graduate
Undergraduate and graduate students in nutrition submit a one-page description of their volunteer/class/paid/ independent study research, and an example of their research (plan or complete), an abstract and a letter of recommendation from their advisor.
Recipient: Sarah Dellett
While some pursue research through textbooks, Sarah went a step further – building a thesis through action. Though she is a master’s student who does not have to do research, she meticulously maintained a mouse colony and performed experiments in Dr. Ramalingam’s lab. She also published a manuscript and has one in the works. Essentially, Sarah crafted a thesis not with words, but with dedication. For this impactful contribution, she undeniably deserves the graduate student research award.
Nutrition Department Marshal, Graduate
Marshals lead their department in the academic procession and Falk College Convocation. They are chosen based on their academic achievements and service to their department and the Falk College.
Recipient: Taylor Bush
Taylor was chosen based on her well-roundedness as a student, including her academic excellence and her involvement in the department as a graduate assistant. She puts her knowledge of nutrition to work as a nutritionist at WIC of Oswego County, and she will do her dietetic internship through the Russel Sage College Distance dietetic internship next year.
Outstanding Dietetic Intern Director’s Award
Current Dietetic Interns can apply for this award via their resume and a one-page write-up conveying why they are worthy, and a letter of recommendation from a preceptor.
Recipient: Sophia Dimkopoulos
This award takes on special meaning this year as it is the last dietetic intern we will award as we phase out our dietetic internship program. Sophia is an outstanding representation of qualities we hope for in an intern. Sophia is articulate, reliable, open-minded, a great team player and one of the most optimistic people I have ever met. She brings sunshine into every room. Sophia completed her master of arts in Nutrition Science here at Syracuse University, prior to entering the dietetic internship. We are proud of all she has accomplished during her time here and hope that she makes her way back to Syracuse.
Faculty Award for Excellence in Nutrition Science
This recipient of this award should be an undergraduate student in Nutrition Science that has demonstrated excellence in their field of study.
Recipient: Nicole Babineau
Nicole’s excellent academic performance, coupled with her work as a Shaw Center Leadership Intern, Syracuse University’s Health Ambassador program, and the Nutrition Education Promotion Association, underscore her commitment to leadership, community engagement, and nutrition education. Next year, she will continue her education as a graduate student at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Selleck Award
This award is presented to a senior student in Human Development and Family Science and a senior student in Nutrition Science and Dietetics with the highest cumulative GPA.
Recipient: Mariana Pérez Lugo
Mariana’s eligibility for this award is clear based on her exceptional academic performance as previously described. She is truly a shing star in our program – an exemplary young scholar.
Susan J. Crockett Prize for Student Leadership
This award is for senior student or student completing their graduate work who has shown outstanding leadership qualities during their undergraduate or graduate studies.
Recipient: Alyssa Quinn
Alyssa is a natural educator and leader with a humble, inclusive and supportive nature that makes others comfortable and curious to learn from her. She quickly stepped up to become the Susan Klenk lab assistant and held that position for two semesters. From her growth as a leader among her peers, Alyssa was invited to work closely with Chef Kiernan developing a summer college course for high school students that developed their understanding of food systems. Alyssa is also known as “Queen of Hillside” for her leadership and engagement working with high school students teaching them about the benefits of nutrition and education. She has also been chosen to manage Pete’s Giving Garden through the 2024 growing season.
Victoria Li Scholarship Award
A junior or a senior nutrition major, a pillar and leader working with the community to improve an individual’s or groups’ nutrition knowledge and/or dietary intake. The award recipient exemplifies some of Tori’s best qualities: compassion (generous with time and energy), positivity and humility.
Recipient: Tess Palin
Tess is an outstanding student who is a Falk Scholar and recently completed her thesis for the Renee Crown Honors College. For her Honors thesis, Tess recognized a gap in the literature on her chosen topic of eating disorders and decided to complete an excellent literature review. Her work in this area will not only provide her with valuable insight for her future graduate research, but also has the potential to contribute to the body of literature in the field. She is the president of NEPA, a Shaw Center intern leading Cooking on the Hillside, and has her own Podcast. Tess will be combining her nutrition degree with a social work degree and plans to work in eating disorder treatment.
Nutrition Science Marshal, Undergraduate
Marshals lead their department in the academic procession and Falk College Convocation. They are chosen based on their academic achievements and service to their department and the Falk College.
Recipient: Nicole Babineau
Nicole was selected for this honor based on her excellent academic performance, coupled with her work as a Shaw Center Leadership Intern, Syracuse University’s Health Ambassador program, and the Nutrition Education Promotion Association, all of which underscore her commitment to leadership, community engagement, and nutrition education. Next year, she will continue her education as a graduate student at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Nutrition Marshal, Undergraduate
Marshals lead their department in the academic procession and Falk College Convocation. They are chosen based on their academic achievements and service to their department and the Falk College.
Recipient: Lirona Brucaj
Lirona’s resilience, leadership, and commitment to excellence have been exemplified by several academic honors and awards, such as being a Renée Crown Honors Student, 1870 Scholar, and an Invest in SUccess Scholar. She actively engages in community service as an Admissions Intern and Nutrition Education Volunteer. Lirona was selected for this award because, in addition to her academic achievements, she brings a smile to everything she does and always goes out of her way to be inclusive of all. In the fall, she will continue her journey to becoming a nutrition professional at Boston University.
Falk College Marshal
Senior Class Marshals have excelled during their time on campus and exemplify the spirit of the senior class. The selection committee assesses the nominees on scholarship, academic honors, student organization involvement, and campus/community service.
Recipient: Mariana Pérez Lugo
Mariana is a standout example of academic ability and leadership. She transitioned from attending SU’s Summer College Pre-Med & Health Professions program as a high school student to becoming one of 12 exceptional Syracuse University Scholars. Mariana’s dedication and compassion have enhanced the SU community over the past four years and now distinguish her as an exceptional candidate for medical school. From her prestigious scholarships to her research achievements, Mariana epitomizes the spirit of a Syracuse University Scholar, truly embodying academic excellence, leadership, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.