NSCI excels at the OkAND Spring Convention

Monday, April 15, 2019

The Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (OkAND) hosted its Spring Convention March 28 – 29, 2019, and the Oklahoma State University Department of Nutritional Sciences (NSCI) received several awards and scholarships.

Faculty awards included the Distinguished Dietetic Educator Award, given to Dr. Deana Hildebrand, an associate professor and associate department head in NSCI. Hildebrand also serves as the department’s graduate coordinator.

Katherine Metzinger, a graduating senior, took home the Outstanding Student in a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Award for the state of Oklahoma. Master’s student Kendall Anderson received the Outstanding Student in a Dietetic Internship Award.

Two NSCI master’s students were awarded scholarships. Gabriela Puche received the OkAND NCDDA Scholarship, and Michelle Cameron received the OkCD Joline Miracle Memorial Scholarship.

OSU Regents Professor and the John and Sue Taylor Professor Dr. Brenda J. Smith served as the conference’s opening presenter. Her topic was “Could Dietary Strategies Targeting the Gut Provide the Next Novel Approach to Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment?”

Taylor Conner, an NSCI graduate who now works as a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator in Oklahoma County, was recognized along with LaDonna Hines, Oklahoma County Extension Director, as this year’s Friends of OkAND. These two women represented OSU Cooperative Extension.

NSCI master’s students swept the poster competition with the following posters:

• 1st place: Impact of Age and Physical Activity on Postprandial Metabolic Responses - Nicholas Koemel
• 2nd place: Postprandial Lipemic Responses to Various Sources of Dietary Fat in Healthy Adults - Christina Sciarrillo
• 3rd place: Loss of ZIP12 in Neuro-2A Cells Increases Mitochondrial Superoxide and Reduces Neurite Outgrowth, Which is Partially Restored by PGC-1alpha - Morgan Strong