Named in honor of the late Jaqueline Rae Vandagriff, former TWU student and nutrition major, the program seeks to support TWU students who have an interest in health and wellbeing. Through a paid, on-campus internship placement, students selected for the program will receive invaluable, hands-on experience.
“TWU’s motto is that we learn to do by doing,” said Michelle Reeves, Director of the Health and Wellbeing Initiative. “The Vandagriff Endowment allows us to expand those experiential learning options for our students through the Health and Wellbeing Initiative.”
Students interested in the program should contact the Health and Wellbeing Initiative for selection criteria and availability.
Contributions to the Vandagriff Endowment may be made online or by mail to the TWU Foundation, PO Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204.
Congratulations to the 2020-21 Vandagriff Scholars:
Anne-Marie Alford and Miteshri D Prajapati
Below are the personalized scholarship reports featuring current scholarship recipient information provided by the students. We hope you enjoy reading the student responses and also get a sense of the impact this scholarship has made on their college experience. The Vandagriff family and TWU would like to thank all the donors who have generously contributed to this endowment.
Anne-Marie Alford- Valley View, Texas
Major: Nutrition with an Emphasis in Dietetics
Classification: Senior
Campus: Denton
Discuss your educational and career goals
First and foremost, I will graduate with my Bachelor of Science this spring of 2021. Following graduation, I will be attending an internship and my hope is to be accepted to TWU and participate in the combined master's and internship program that is offered. These are my immediate goals I plan to achieve. I have hopes and dreams that follow, but as I know, life doesn't always follow a plan of action and therefore, I am leaving what is to follow open. However, my dream is to work in a clinical environment and hopefully develop my own specialty in women's health while branding myself as the women's dietitian. I am completely open to obtaining my PhD, but following the internship and master's program, I aspire to have more children and to be a successful mother.
What was your favorite course at TWU last year or this semester?
Over the past two years at TWU, my favorite class actually stems from this semester, Medical Nutrition Therapy I. As a future dietitian, my desire is to learn about all the clinical aspects of nutrition and I am extremely excited to learn about the array of disorders/diseases I may come across and how I can aid with good nutrition.
What was a memorable moment from one of your professors in the classroom?
The most memorable moment I have from a professor in the classroom is from Mrs. Rew in Dietetics as a Profession. She told us that her husband works in management and her as a dietitian. Her husband will consistently remind her that he has a job, while she works in a profession. It reminds me and brings joy to know that I am in a profession, I am providing care to individuals for a lifetime. This isn't just a job, but a vocation in life's work.
What are your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I am a mother to my beautiful and rambunctious toddler, Ransom! All of my spare time goes to him and if I have any leftover, I love to monitor my well-being by self-care. This involves reading books for pleasure, going on hikes, traveling, and spending quality time with the people I love most. Ransom and I enjoy playing outside, rough-housing, and looking at different kinds of bugs and animals!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, married with an eight-year-old, and hopefully more babies. I hope I am on my journey of creating a specialty in women's health and nurturing my family.
A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS
I would like to thank the Vandagriff's for providing monetary support and most importantly, giving me the opportunity to learn by doing. I couldn't be any more grateful for the opportunity and experience you have given me. I am extremely eager to represent and give justice to the Vandagriff name.
Miteshri D Prajapati- Houston, TX
Major: Nutrition Science
Classification: Graduate
Campus: Houston
Discuss your educational and career goals
The day I stepped on the TWU Denton campus I knew I was meant to be here. My doctorate journey has been great so far with constant support from my advisor Dr. Davis and my co-advisor Dr. Miketinas. It’s been a continuous learning experience working as a teaching assistant for the biology department and pursuing my research under the guidance of my advisors. After I graduate I want my research to be instrumental in changing the dynamics of maternal and child health in developing countries. The courses and research experience has made me a better writer and now as a Vandagriff Scholar I am honing my skills as a nutrition consultant. I am really thankful to everyone at TWU for believing in me and providing me with resources and opportunities. I will make everyone proud!
What was your favorite course at TWU last year or this semester?
I have enjoyed all my courses so far, but I am loving the NFS 5893 Advance Nutrition Epidemiology and NFS 5603 Research Statistics this semester. These courses are helping me design my thesis and understand how coding can change how we analyze pre-existing research data which I think all doctoral students should learn.
What was a memorable moment from one of your professors in the classroom?
I haven’t had a chance to be on campus since I started my doctorate due to the pandemic. However, the research statistics class with Dr. Derek Miketinas has been fun as I learn about programming and coding via SAS.
What are your hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy cooking every day. It’s almost therapeutic for me as a Nutritionist. I am also trained in Indian classical dancing and doodling on the weekends.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
With the ongoing pandemic, I am not sure how things will play out, but I surely want to expand health research in India. There are plenty of things that need to be changed in how things are done back home, and the health sector is the place that needs immediate attention.
A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS
It has been an absolute pleasure to be granted this opportunity where international students like myself can get hands-on experience. This scholarship has enabled me to help hundreds of students take charge of their health and well-being. This pandemic has surely changed the way we perceive mental and physical health especially in the student population and this scholarship will be instrumental in achieving the goal of a healthy TWU community. Thank you very much for your continued support in the form of this scholarship.