Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Society: News & Events
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NDAS presents Dr. Ruth Pike with Honorary Membership
NDAS recently presented Dr. Ruth Pike with an honorary lifetime membership and a small gift in recognition of her continued commitment to the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the field of nutrition. During her 34-year tenure at Penn State, Dr. Pike made outstanding scholarly contributions, trained many key nutritionists who hold/held leadership positions, and taught memorable undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition, her textbook, NUTRITION: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH, was a mainstay of undergraduate and graduate education both nationally and internationally. Dr. Pike continues to contribute to nutrition research and education at Penn State through a lectureship and the Ruth L. Pike Scholarship in Basic Nutrition Science. She is indeed a tribute to Penn State and the Department of Nutritional Sciences.
NDAS Awards Travel Grants to Two Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students
Graduate students Amy Griel and Sandhya Sankaranarayanan were each selected to receive a $400 travel grant to attend the Experimental Biology meeting this year in San Diego, California. Amy presented her research poster titled, “A change in dietary unsaturated fat does not affect C-reactive protein.” and Sandhya presented her poster, “The homogeneity of intra- and inter-individual variations of RBP:TTR index makes it a better biomarker of vitamin A status than retinol (Rol)”during the meeting. Congratulations to Amy and Sandhya for this well deserved award!
Dr. Woot-Tsuen Wu Leung Selected to Receive 2005 Outstanding Nutrition Alumni Award
Dr. Woot-Tsuen Wu Leung was selected to receive the NDAS 2005 Outstanding Alumni Award. This award recognizes an alumna/alumnus who has distinguished him or herself through contributions in the discipline, such as publication, service, research or administration.
Dr. Leung graduated in 1940 with a Ph.D. in Home Economics and a specialization in nutrition. In her early professional years she worked at the US Department of Agriculture, US Public Health Service and in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Interdepartmental Committee for Nutrition for National Defense (ICNND), where she contributed to the improvement of the nutritional status of citizens in many countries. Almost single-handedly, she was responsible for the creation of geographic specific and culturally appropriate Food Composition Tables, essential tools for nutritionists in many countries in various stages of development following World War II. Later on, she generously provided funding for the creation of the Woot-Tsuen Wu Leung Scholarship in Nutrition in the College of Health and Human Development that will permit promising students with Asian heritage to receive the training necessary to hopefully follow in your footsteps and become nationally and internationally recognized leaders in nutrition.
Dr. Leung is a tribute to Penn State, the College of Health and Human Development, and the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She received an engraved plaque to honor her accomplishments and contributions to the field of nutrition and the Penn State community.
Nutrition graduates at a tailgate social before the Penn State - Cincinnati game, September 10, 2005. Hope you'll join us next year!
