2019 Awards Recognition

Seattle, Washington

2019 WASHINGTON STATE ACADEMY OF

NUTRITION AND DIETETICS AWARDS

We are honored to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of our outstanding peers, colleagues and students. Once again, your Washington State Academy Board would like to thank the district representatives and individuals who submitted nominations this year. Thanks also to each nominee for following through with the fairly extensive on-line application process. Beginning last fall, information about the Washington State Academy and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics awards was distributed to each of our district dietetic associations, along with a request for nominations. Awards information was also posted on the Washington State Academy website at www.eatrightwashington.org. To select our award recipients, panels of Washington State Academy board members reviewed all applications, using standardized scoring. We encourage you to consider nominating someone next year!

• Remember that as a Washington State Academy member, you may nominate someone through your district association or on your own

• If you feel that a nominee that didn’t receive an award was a good candidate, it is very appropriate to re-nominate her/him

Marissa Beck, MS, RD

Awards Chair

OUTSTANDING DIETITIAN OF THE YEAR

Alison Evert, MS, RD, CDE The Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to honor Alison

Evert, a Washington State native, as Washington State’s Outstanding Dietitian of the

Year (ODY) for 2019. This award is the most prestigious recognition that the

Washington State Academy can give. The award honors a Registered Dietitian

Nutritionist (RDN) who has demonstrated leadership and who has served as an

outstanding role model of professionalism and as a source of inspiration to others in

dietetics.

Ms. Evert is the manager of the Nutrition Services and Coordinator of Diabetes

Education Programs for the University of Washington Neighborhood Clinics. She has

responsibility for diabetes education for twelve primary care clinics in Seattle,

Washington, supervising three RDNs and four Diabetes Self‐Management Education

sites. Over the last 13 years, Alison has presented diabetes nutrition lectures for:

UW School of Nursing, UW Medicine Continuing Physician Education – primary care provider symposium, UW

Department of Nutrition – Master’s Program, UW Residents – internal medicine and family practice, Endocrine

Fellows, and for UWNC – Diabetes Boot Camps for Care Management RNs. Ms. Evert has also presented a variety

of programs for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and for a national work and for dietetic students – was

invited as a guest lecturer five times over the last 10 years at Seattle Pacific University – Nutrition undergraduate

program. Ms. Evert as also authored over 20 diabetes and nutrition topics. As a co-author of countless

publications, including textbooks and journals, Ms. Evert’s name finds itself in Diabetes Spectrum, Krause’s Food

and the Nutrition Care Process, and Diabetes Nutrition Therapy, published by the American Diabetes Association,

to name a few. Ms. Evert has also created an online database of diabetes education handouts for UW Patient

Family Education.

Ms. Evert’s strong leadership skills are evidenced in these positions as a mentor and inspiration for

RDNs/RNs/PharmDs, and her accolades for her work include receiving the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year

(RYDY) in Washington State (1985), Distinguished Service Award by the Diabetes Care & Education Dietetic

Practice Group (2004), Diabetes Educator of the Year by the Washington State Association of Diabetes Educators

(2005), and Outstanding Educator Award by the University of Washington Medical Center (2008, 10, 13, 15).

States a letter of recommendation, “Review of Alison’s curriculum vitae … will reveal a dietetic professional who

has worked tirelessly and volunteered in her chosen profession for almost 39 years. She is an ambassador,

advocate, mentor, preceptor, innovator, and trailblazer for our profession. She is also a gifted, talented and

passionate educator, clinician, author, and researcher...in diabetic care and education.”

Ms. Evert became a registered dietitian in 1980 she has been an active member of the Academy and an advocate

for the dietetic profession since then, serving as an elected leader in the Diabetes Care and Education Dietetic

Practice Group, the largest dietetic practice group of the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics at the time with over

5000 members. Alison served as the co‐chair for the American Diabetes Association’s 2013 position statement

“Nutrition Therapy Recommendations for the Management of Adults with Diabetes.” Alison is currently serving as

the co‐chair of the Academy’s 2019 Diabetes Nutrition Therapy Consensus Report, an update to the 2013 paper.

PAST ODY RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT

1983 Nancy Burgel 1995 Martha

Peppones

2007 Michelle

Weinbender

1984 Kaye Funk 1996 Paula Hudon 2008 Caroline Steele

1985 Colleen Matthys 1997 Susan Lukacs 2009 Barbara J. Pyper

1986 Luanne Anderson 1998 Elaine Reid 2010 Debe Nagy-Nero

1987 Not awarded 1999 Betty Lucas 2011 Nancy James

1988 Ruth McDonald 2000 Ethan Bergman 2012 Karen Barale

1989 Gladys Jennings 2001 Paula Charuhas 2013 Kathy Dirks

1990 Dorothea "Dottie"

Nicholson

2002 Carol Griffith 2014 Janet Beary

1991 Margaret Brown 2003 Not awarded 2015 Louise Peck

1992 Marilyn Guthrie 2005 Not awarded 2016 Angel Planells

1994 Virginia McMulkin 2006 Annie Frederick 2017 Anne Lund

2018 Sharon Feucht

RECOGNIZED YOUNG DIETITIAN OF THE YEAR

Mari O Mazon, MS, RDN, CD

The Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to honor Mari

Mazon as the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (RYDY) for 2019. The

purpose of the annual RYDY award is to recognize the competency and activities

of young dietitians in the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, while also

encouraging continual member participation in Association affairs.

As part of her contract with the Washington State Department of Health Children

with Special Health Care Needs Program, Ms. Mazon serves as part of their

nutrition faculty on a training grant, and is also a consulting dietitian to an early

intervention center, putting her in a unique position to address the nutrition

needs of children with special health care needs both at the population and the

direct services level. She provides medical nutrition therapy to children with

special health care needs in a variety of settings. At the University of Washington

Center on Human Development & Disability, she is part of the Child Development

Clinic as well as the Late and Moderate Premature Babies Follow‐Up Clinic. Ms. Mazon also acts as the sole

dietitian at an early intervention center, Kindering, which has campuses in Bellevue, Bothell, Renton, and

Redmond. As principal investigator on the nutrition training contract with the Washington State Department of

Health, she manages the finances on the contract to ensure they meet the contract deliverables within the

allotted budget.

Heavily involved in the growth and development of dietitians in the pediatric world, Ms. Mazon not only serves as

an awarded preceptor by the University of Washington Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (2014), but

also as Past Chair of the Washington State Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (2017-2018), where she revitalized

the group’s presence, enhancing attendance to education sessions and membership.

Says a letter of recommendation, “… our team was fortunate that she was interested in pediatric nutrition and

children with special health care needs. She sought additional training opportunities, conducted independent

research for her thesis project (that was really more along the lines of a dissertation), and completed the

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) training program in 2011.

“She juggles many clinical and leadership roles. She is thoughtful and evidence-based in her clinical practice, as

she helps clients and families incorporate nutrition recommendations into the big picture of the health and

everyday life. Her role on the LEND includes providing nutrition services in several clinics as a member of an

interdisciplinary team, supervising trainees and fellows as they rotate through the program, and serving on

program committees. She is one of six MCHB Pediatric Pulmonary Center Program RDNs in the US, serving as

faculty and mentor for trainees at Seattle Children’s and UW. Ms. Mazon is the Nutrition Consultant for Kindering,

providing nutrition services to children and consultation to the feeding team. In addition, she directs a Title V

training grant from the WA State DOH, providing ongoing leadership and training to RDNs and interdisciplinary

feeding teams statewide. Our program supervises dietetic interns, and Mari was recognized as an Outstanding

Preceptor by the UW NSP in 2014. She consistently (and cheerfully) mentors and supports students, interns,

residents, and fellows.”

PAST RYDY RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT

1978 Cheryl Marshall

1990 Janis Harsila

2002 Katie Thorner

Sue Foise Terri Trisler Mary Jennings

1979 Polly Lenssen

1991 Linette Jurdy

2003 Beth Ogata

Jennifer Parenteua Leslie Thomson Holly Trujillo

1980 Judy Larsen

1992 Victoria Warren 2004 Kelly Frederick

Margaret Gross Elaine Reid 2005 Amy Myrtue

1981 Marilyn Guthrie

1993 Kathy Marlon

2006 Jennifer Helms

Jean Sloan Shelly Nagle Sarah Zarelli

1982 Barbara Himes

1994 Paula Charuhas

2007

Lisa Grentz

Rebecca Esvelt Julie Drzewiecki Andrea Hill

1983 Mari Chapman

1995 Mary Paeth Heidi Roberts

Chelene Campbell Denise Zimmer 2008 Kristen Rezabek

1984 Debra Thumser French

1996 Julie Mahler 2009 Bobbi Jo Rettman

Carol Melby Julie Muelheim 2010 Allison Stanton

1985 Kathleen Clark

1997 Nikki Kettles 2011 Michon WIlliams

Alison Becker Evert Caroline Swenson 2013 Lindsay Hays

1986 Laurie Ditton

1998 Jennifer Newman 2014 Amy Frasieur

Barbara Eldridge Michelle Hagan 2015 Katy Figel

1987 Perri Bernard 1999 Annie Frederick

2016 Maureen Chomko

Lisa Meusborn 2000

Kim Robien Chris Vogliano

1988 Cheryl Johnson Wendy Weyer 2017 Marissa Beck

Megan Veldee 2001

Susette Gjovik 2018 Bec McDorman

1989 Jacqueline Beard Marybeth Roberts

Kathy Dirks

EMERGING DIETETIC LEADER

Susie Fox, MS, RD

The Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to honor Susie

Fox as the Emerging Dietetic Leader of 2019. The purpose of the annual EDL award

is recognize the competence and activities of dietitians regardless of their age,

who have made distinctive contributions early in their dietetics careers to the

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Most individuals would leave the struggles of their dietetic internship boxed

within the time-frame in which they’ve participated; Susie Fox is an anomaly. Says

a letter of recommendation, “Rather than forgetting about [the problems inherent

in DI programs] once she became an RD, Ms. Fox worked to improve the situation

for future students. She looked at both small scale/easy to implement options

and large scale/harder to implement solutions. She consistently said ‘Yes’ when

asked to precept, for DPD students and interns; especially those who suddenly had a rotation fall through.

Knowing that acting as a preceptor was only one part of the solution, she researched what it would take to create

an internship program and ways to make it easier for RDs to precept. In 2012, she decided to work towards

creating a Dietetic Internship accredited by ACEND and in fall of 2018 Garden to Table Nutrition accepted its first

class of interns.”

As such, Garden To Table Nutrition was born for Dietetic Internships with Ms. Fox as its Founder & Director. Prior,

she has been leading a program at the local YMCA called ACT! Actively Changing Together, which addresses

childhood obesity. She also conducts nutrition counseling and cooking classes for both individual and small

groups, and has worked with a team to create community events such as Healthy Kids Day, Celebrate Wellness,

and presented at Cascadia College and UW Bothell. Since 2015, she has worked for Catholic Social Services of

Western Washington to provide nutritious meals, education, and nutrition counseling for seniors at congregate

meal programs.

Ms. Fox has also been a member of the North Shore School District Nutrition and Fitness Advisory since October

2011. This is a group of educators, community members, parents and students who work on developing policies

and practices to maintain and improve health of the students in the districts. Ms. Fox has provided guidance

leading to district wide policies making it possible for more children to safely bike to school, and helped update

the district’s nutrition and fitness policies. Using her insight as an RD, parent, and former classroom school

teacher, Ms. Fox has been able to find ways to balance the needs expressed by special education teachers,

parents of students with allergies, and the general population of students. Additionally, she has helped educate

the Advisory about the changing USDA requirements and encouraged the school district to find new vegetarian

options with more variety and less sugar with tangible nutritious results.

PAST EMERGING DIETETIC LEADER AWARD RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT

2000 Donna Parsons 2010 Livia Wagner

2001 Pam Mahre 2011 Marie Millren Tucker

2004 Judy Heesacker 2013 Marissa Claiborne

2007 Stacy Lueck 2016 April Davis

2009 Kendra Swartz 2017 Ben Atkinson

PAST EXCELLENCE IN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT

2016 Adam Pazder

2017 Katie Farver 2018 Kelsey Thomas

PAST CLINICAL/RESEARCH AWARD RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT

1998 Nancy James 2007 Katie Farver

1999 Polly Lenssen 2008 Diane Packard

2000 Johanna Lampe 2010 Lonnie Isaacson

2001 Ruth Patterson 2011 Marilyn Shelton

2002 Susan Scheunemann 2012 Joan Milton

2003 Caroline Steele 2014 Ben Atkinson

2005 Kim Nowak-Cooperman 2015 Megan Nordland

2017 Julie Church

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY PRACTICE AWARD

Alexandra Bush-Kaufman, MPH, RDN, CD

The Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to honor Alexandra Bush-Kaufman for the Excellence in Community Practice Award for 2019. The purpose of the Practice Awards recognizes outstanding registered dietitian nutritionists; nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered; and members who have demonstrated innovation, creativity and leadership in a specific area of practice. Says a letter of recommendation, “Ms. Bush-Kaufman has made a significant contribution in community dietetics through the research and development of an environmental scan and toolkit for food pantries…” Ms. Bush-Kaufman developed the “Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Toolkit.”

This work was completed as part of the USDA Western Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Center of Excellence Grant, with a goal to build the evidence‐base regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP‐Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), and to identify strategies to strengthen both programs. She worked with team members, including graduate students and interns, to field test and implement environmental assessment tools across 11 states and 45 unique pantry sites. She collected meticulous feedback from community partners that included food pantry managers and volunteers, as well as nutrition educators, to enhance the tools for food pantries. She consulted with local colleagues and visited food banks and pantries between July 2016 and August 2017 throughout the Western US to complete this project. This work was recently published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2018.10.004). Currently, Ms. Bush-Kaufman works as an Extension Coordinator Specialist for Washington State University (WSU) Extension in Pierce County, WA, devoting time to “Food, Feeding, and Your Family”, a USDA Agriculture Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention Grant. She also participates in continuous quality improvement projects and strategic planning to extend and adapt EFNEP in a changing community setting. Alexandra has served on the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior 2017 & 2018 Annual Meeting Planning Committee. She has developed strong, positive partnerships within Extension and national non‐profits. She regularly precepts dietetic interns for their Community Nutrition and/or Public Health rotations through local Puget Sound internship programs, like SeaMar Community Health Centers. She offers well‐organized and distinct experiences to interns to introduce them to the wide possibilities of community practice. States a letter of recommendation, “Ms. Bush-Kaufman has made a great contribution to community nutrition through her research on food pantry e-scans and the development and dissemination of a toolkit that can help food pantries and their local partners identify gaps and improvement strategies to provide healthy options for their clients. This work has been adopted by food pantries in Washington and by numerous pantries and partner agencies across the country.”

PAST COMMUNITY PRACTICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

YEAR RECIPIENT YEAR RECIPIENT

1998 Vivienne Dutzar 2009 Michelle Hagan

1999 Sandi Laney 2010 Sue Butkus

2000 Lonnie Isaacson 2011 Lisa Randall

2001 Becky Knapp 2012 Lori Tanner

2002 Michelle Weinbender 2013 Laurie J. Schaetzel-Hill

2003 Martha Marino 2014 Joan Brookhyser Hogan

2004 Sharon Feucht 2015 Stacey Trogdon

2007 Jan Gilliam 2016 Chelsey Lindahl

2008 Malvina “Annie” Goodwin 2017 Judy Simon

OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS

The purpose of the Washington State Academy’s Outstanding Student Award is to recognize the emerging

leadership and achievement of students in Academy-accredited and approved dietetic education programs. The

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics established this award in 1994 to recognize students who have demonstrated

exceptional academic excellence and leadership in their dietetics program.

Outstanding Student in a Coordinated Program in Dietetics

Brajee Green, BS

The Washington State Academy is proud to honor Brajee Green with the

2019 Outstanding Dietetics Student in a Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

Brajee is pursuing a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at

Washington State University. Brajee has excelled both in academia and in

multiple leadership activities, with an expected graduation date of December

2019.

Brajee’s achievements are many. States a letter of recommendation, “[Brajee

has]… superior interpersonal skills, fortitude in her academic performance,

and consideration for those in need. Not only does Brajee exhibit compassion

for others but also takes action to improve food security and ameliorate

health disparity in the Spokane community, all while attending graduate school full-time and raising a family.”

As an undergraduate student, Brajee joined the Washington State University Spokane Campus Pantry and fell in

love with the mission of helping students. While a senior, she was eager to continue the mission of Campus Pantry

as the president. Within that year, Campus Pantry went from a shared room to having its own room, while

partnering with local community organizations, such as Second Harvest and Eastern Washington University. In

addition, she was able to implement a yearly program which delivers nutrition education to students on campus

called, Mindful Eating Week.

States a letter of recommendation, “Brajee’s ability to bring key players together, along with her drive and

kindheartedness, were the impetus for the Campus Pantry at Washington State University Spokane, which has

now been serving the student body for over 2 years. Additionally, she is an elected student government

committee member for the Associated Students Washington State University, and a core team member for the

University District’s Health Equity Circle (HEC). Brajee plans to seek grant funding to build a greenhouse

and cultivate a gardening program at WSU Spokane to further serve the needs of the community and educate

school-aged children about soil, plants, nutrients, and sustainability.”

States a letter of recommendation, “Brajee is a leader in every sense of the word, inside and out of the classroom.

I strongly feel that Brajee will excel to the top of our profession in an impactful and meaningful way and has the

fervor to inspire and serve others throughout her career.”

Outstanding Student in a Dietetic Internship

Roberto Rubio-Velazquez, BS

The Washington State Academy is proud to honor Roberto Rubio-Velazquez with

the 2019 Outstanding Student in a Dietetic Internship award. Roberto received his

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Central Washington University, 2018 and is

expected to complete his dietetic internship at Central Washington University

(CWU) in July 2019.

Roberto is recognized by his professors, preceptors and peers for his personal and

professional achievements. Aside from being academically driven, making CWU

Honor Roll, Roberto has earned various academic scholarships.

States a letter of recommendation, “Since beginning the internship, Roberto has

been a stand-out intern, receiving rave reviews from his preceptors and anyone he

comes in contact with. Preceptors are going to be banging his door down trying to

hire him once he becomes an RDN. Here are a few words I would use to describe

Roberto: humble, kind, genuine, and hard working. Roberto has the biggest heart and the kindest soul, I’ve

encountered in years. He’s a true inspiration and will be a great role model, RDN and preceptor in his

future as an RDN.”

States a recommendation from one of his preceptors: “Roberto was an exceptional intern. He excelled in all areas

of his community health rotation, going above and beyond what was expected or asked of him… It was obvious

that he has a passion for serving his community and making a difference with those who need it most. Roberto

would be a welcomed addition to any team or organization!”

Outstanding Student in a Didactic Program in Dietetics

Hillary Nason, BS

The Washington State Academy is proud to honor Hillary Nason with the 2019

Outstanding Dietetics Student in a Didactic Program in Dietetics. Hillary is pursuing

her Master of Science in Nutrition at Bastyr University with an expected graduation

date of June 2019.

Hillary has been a student nutrition clinician at Bastyr Center for Natural Health

from June 2018-Present, as well as the sole student nutrition clinician at Bastyr

Center for Natural Health on Diabetes/Cardiovascular Health naturopathic

medicine shift beginning January 2019. She has also been a Teaching Assistant for a

myriad of courses, including but not limited to Biostatistics and a Research

Assistant for “Food Acquisition Strategies Among Homeless Youth” study. She is

also the co-coordinator of Bastyr Student Nutrition Association Teen Feed program

from June 2018 to present.

Aside from her academic achievements, Hillary was selected to write a new appendix on the Mediterranean Diet

for the 15th edition of “Krause's Food & the Nutrition Care Process.” She is also the President of Bastyr University

Student Nutrition Association and Admissions Ambassador for Bastyr University MSN-DPD program. Hillary was

also the Bastyr University Graduate Honors Entrance Scholarship recipient in 2017.

States a letter of recommendation, “Hillary is an extremely driven and involved student both in and outside of the

Bastyr community. She holds various leadership positions, including President of the Student Nutrition

Association, and has numerous work and volunteer obligations. Despite her hectic schedule, Hillary is personable,

patient, kind, and always has a positive attitude, which makes working with her both effortless and pleasurable.

She will undoubtedly become a “move and a shaker” in the larger dietetics community.”