Besnilian Leadership Scholarship
Scholar: Tommy Lor
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Tommy: Tommy grew up in a low-income neighborhood in the Chinatown/Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles. He is currently a student in the nutrition and dietetics program and hopes to one day be a registered dietitian and be able to give back by providing the surrounding communities with information about healthy meal management. In 2007, Tommy started at CSUN right out of high school. He said that, at the time, he didn’t take school seriously. After almost a decade, he returned to CSUN to achieve a personal goal of his; to finish college where he started. He started his college journey as a Matador and it is his goal to graduate as a Matador. After graduation, he plans to start a dietetic internship within a graduate program. In the next year, however, Tommy would like to partake in more internships at CSUN. He is currently volunteering for programs that feed the less fortunate and he holds a part-time job as a server in a restaurant. He would also like to present his qualitative research study, Perceptions of Incorporating Visual Aides into the Nutrition Facts Label among College Students, at the American Public Health Association annual meeting expo in 2019. Tackling an independent research study was something that he would have never considered before having received this scholarship. He would like to thank Dr. Besnilian for the wonderful opportunity and he is honored and grateful for the assistance. Tommy hopes to live up to the aspirations of the scholarship and to have as much dedication and passion that Dr. Besnilian has continuously exhibited in her over 27 years at CSUN.
About the Scholarship: For over 27 years, Dr. Annette Besnilian has considered CSUN a second home for her and her family. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), from the Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science program in 1994. She is currently the Executive Director of the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics and a faculty member in the Nutrition and Dietetics program in the FCS Department. This scholarship will be given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in the FCS Department and will support and provide leadership opportunities for those students who intend to apply to local or national conferences and/or annual professional symposia to present their research.
Pastor Herrera Jr. Scholarship
Scholar: Tracy Munoz
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Emphasis in Consumer Affairs
About Tracy: Tracy grew up in a low-income community in Boyle Heights; she is the second oldest in her family, the first to graduate high school and a first-generation college student. She said it has been a long academic journey, but she is excited and determined to finish what she started in 2008. In May of 2019, she will graduate from CSUN with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, with an emphasis in Consumer Affairs.
When she first came to CSUN, she was a business major, but then decided to pursue family and consumer sciences because of the broad scope that allows her to learn and embrace what she is passionate about. That passion involves being able to combine her background in business and also learn the importance of building relationships, financial responsibility, housing, nutrition, and clothing. She likes how she can use all of the information gathered from these areas to help others. Tracy has a strong desire to work with families, individuals, and communities in the future. She hopes to be able to help them make long lasting life changes. Tracy is currently a member of the Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). She has helped raise funds to feed the homeless in downtown Los Angeles and was part of the City of Los Angeles Victim Assistance Internship program (a program that offers crisis intervention, criminal justice advocacy, and provides individuals with information about the resources the city offers). She is now interning with Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles in the low-income community of East Los Angeles. As an intern there, she is assisting young adults in learning new skills (such as resume writing, applying for jobs, interview techniques, searing for jobs, etc.), their rights in the workplace, and informing them of other available resources.
Receiving this scholarship means so much to Tracy. She feels very fortunate to have been chosen and she cannot thank Pastor Herrera enough for his generous contribution. She said that because of him she is one step closer to finishing her undergraduate degree.
About the Scholarship: Pastor Herrera, Jr. has been an adjunct professor at CSUN since 2011. He has also served on the California State License Board and held multiple positions at the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs for over 19 years. His most recent position at the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs was serving as the Director for the Consumer and Business Affairs Department. Pastor understands the importance of giving back and felt that supporting scholarships would make the greatest impact and help students with their finances as they work their way through the family and consumer sciences programs.
Rosalie Hilger Achievement Scholarship
Scholar: Karina Almanza
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards completing: Dietetic Internship
About Karina: Karina is a graduate student in the Dietetic Internship program in CSUN’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department. She anticipates completing the program in 2019. Karina recently graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition. She has managerial experience in a foodservice, sustainability, nutrition, and community-hospital setting. With a keen focus on incorporating her nutrition expertise, Karina is and will continue helping the community through the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices. As a registered dietitian, Karina hopes to inspire others to carry a holistic view on living a healthy lifestyle, whether it be through public policies or one-on-one consults in an outpatient or clinical setting.
Scholar: Cassandra Moore
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Cassandra: Cassandra is an only child and was raised by her mother in Michigan before moving to California in 2015. She said she would not be the person she is today had it not been for her mother. Before Cassandra moved to California as a transfer student from Michigan, she asked around about universities and programs. She heard nothing but good things about CSUN and the Nutrition and Dietetics program and decided the university was the one for her. She studies nutrition because she herself has type 1 diabetes and she grew up thinking it was impossible to live a happy life with the disease. Cassandra hopes to continue her education after graduation and start in a master’s degree program aimed at nutrition and dietetics. She aspires to become a registered dietitian and to work with diabetics to help change the way the disease is perceived in the community. Cassandra said that receiving this scholarship is such an honor and it proves that the hard work and dedication she puts forth in her education is worth it. She thanks the Hilger family for believing in her and for being so generous and kind. Hearing all of the great things about Rosalie Hilger makes Cassandra feel honored for receiving the award in her name.
About the Scholarship: This scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from Ernest Hilger, on behalf of the Hilger Family Trust, and in honor of Ernest’s most beloved wife, Rosalie Hilger. Ernest established this scholarship to carry on Rosalie’s legacy, her caring and gentle spirit, and to benefit future generations of students, something that Rosalie was passionate about.
Rosalie Hilger was an alumna of CSUN’s Family and Consumer Sciences program and served as an adjunct professor at East Los Angeles Community College and Los Angeles Mission College. This scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated a positive life path for themselves and their family and who utilize their own positive energy and education as a way to help them succeed in their chosen profession.
The Christine H. Smith Scholarship
Scholar: Kimberly Anne Poquiz
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Kimberly: Kimberly was born and raised in the Philippines. She came to Los Angeles in November 2013 with her younger sister to be with their mother. Prior to CSUN, she attended Santa Monica College and finished her associate's degree in general science and liberal arts - social and behavioral science. Kimberly chose to study nutrition and dietetics at CSUN because of its good reputation. She is currently serving as the co-publicity officer for the Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. She is also a member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association and was recently elected as the editor for the next academic year. Kimberly is highly involved with the Marilyn Magaram Center and has been a student intern for three consecutive semesters. She credits each of these clubs and organizations with allowing her to acquire the skills and tools for success in the nutrition and dietetics program. She is also a Fit to Win health assessment intern and volunteers at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center Pediatrics Department. Her work in the pediatrics department will give her the exposure with children she needs to work in pediatrics in the future.
Kimberly is grateful for this scholarship and said that if she had the chance to speak with the late Christine Smith, she would thank her for her generosity and dedication to helping students like her achieve their goals. She aspires to do the same for other students in the future. Her career goals include helping communities focus on preventative care through nutrition to battle diseases. She would also like to work closely with pregnant women, infants, and children because she believes that healthy practices start at home and can become lifestyle habits later on.
Scholar: Reena Sood
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Reena: Reena joined the Navy when she was 18 years old and was stationed in Virginia and California. She is now a reservist and has eight years under her belt and plans to retire at 20 years. Reena is studying nutrition and dietetics; she chose CSUN because it is close to where she lives in Chatsworth with her aunt and uncle and she had heard that the university had the best nutrition program. She is currently an intern at the Marilyn Magaram Center and a peer mentor for the International Honor Society, Kappa Omicron Nu. Reena plans to graduate in spring 2019 and hopes to obtain a master’s degree in physician assistant studies and complete a dietetic internship. It is her hope to become a registered dietitian and to be able to merge the worlds of healthcare and nutrition to provide medical care to patients through nutritional methods without necessarily having to use medications. Reena is grateful to have received this scholarship. She said that if she had the opportunity to speak with Christine Smith, she would first give her a hug, and then say thank you for everything she did for CSUN and for the Family and Consumer Sciences Department.
About the Scholarship: The late Dr.Christine “Chris” Smith was a beloved professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department for almost 30 years. She was a co-advisor for the department’s Student Dietetic and Food Science Association for over 20 years and served as the director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Chris was instrumental in guiding students into becoming registered dietitians and she remained a large part of the DPD program after her retirement. Chris and her husband, Owen ’65 (Theatre), M.A. ’67 (Drama) met at CSUN, had a fairytale romance, and both were influential members of the CSUN community. In 2013, they passed away just 81 days apart — Owen after battling cancer and Chris after an accident at her home. Prior to their passing, the Smiths decided to leave a gift from their estate to CSUN, their second home. In their will, the Smiths directed funds in the form of a planned gift to five different areas at CSUN, including this endowed scholarship for a student in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science.
The Family & Consumer Sciences Scholarship
Scholar: Maria Teresa Beltran
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Childcare and Administration
Maria grew up on the border of Manhattan and Redondo Beaches in a nice quiet community in the 1970s. In her teenage years she moved to South Central Los Angeles and became in charge of the family businesses after her parents’ divorce. Once she graduated high school, she was not able to go away to college and had to continue working. Then she started a family and put her dream of college on the backburner again. After a difficult marriage and divorce, Maria was finally able to start college. She received her associate of arts degree from Valley College and is extremely proud to now be a CSUN Matador.
Maria is currently working as a preschool teacher specializing in the Out Door Classroom and Special Education. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in family services after she graduates. She is also completing an internship with Miss California Latina and Miss Teen California Latina where she provides support to the representatives as they work with community organizations to empower young women to embrace their culture and have a voice in social and political issues. She also works at the Safe Project providing support and advocacy for family empowerment.
Maria is a Millennium Momentum graduate, a member of KON and Golden Key honor societies. She also serves as an executive director for Tau Sigma Honor Society. The scholarship means a great deal to her because it puts her another step closer to achieving her life-long dream of graduating from college. Maria is a mother to seven children and 11 grandchildren. They are the most important people to her and she wants to motivate them to never give up on their dreams or goals. It has taken her 35 years to reach CSUN, but she never gave up and believes if she can do it, so can they.
In the future, Maria would like to work as an administrator in child care and provide support for empowering surrounding communities with infant and child development classes. She hopes her positions will allow her to reduce family crises in the community.
The Nancy J. and Joseph N. Owens Kappa Omicron Nu Scholarship
Scholar: Victoria Ayala
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics; Minor in Sustainability
About Victoria: Victoria’s love for nature and gardening started early on when she was growing up in El Salvador. At 11 years old, she moved to Los Angeles and currently lives in the San Fernando Valley. She still enjoys spending time outside in nature, hiking and exploring with her son. In addition to her love for the outdoors, she is passionate about nutrition. Victoria’s passion is working with underserved populations and those who are at-risk for preventable chronic diseases. In the future, she would like to participate in research that addresses health disparities and works to find solutions for preventable chronic diseases and the obesity epidemic. Currently, Victoria is a project leader for the Marilyn Magaram Center and a research assistant for nutrition and dietetics faculty members. She is a KON student honor society board member, the vice-chair for the Associated Students Sustainability Committee, and a Service Learning Student Scholar in Community Engagement.
After graduation, Victoria plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health and a dietetic internship to ultimately become a registered dietitian. As a registered dietitian, she hopes to work within a clinical setting and continue to promote nutrition and health and wellness education in the community. Victoria is deeply appreciative of this scholarship and she is thankful to the donors Nancy and Joseph Owens for supporting her and other students in their academic journeys.
Scholar: Mai Spaulding
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Mai: Mai was born and raised in Japan. After graduating from high school, she moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She chose CSUN because of the university’s emphasis on embracing the diversity of its community. Mai believes that the faculty’s reflection of the diverse student population makes the quality of education that CSUN students receive unique and well-rounded. She aspires to become a clinical registered dietitian and to pursue a doctoral degree in nutrition after completing her studies at CSUN in 2019. She is currently the treasurer of Kappa Omicron Nu and, in the past, was part of SDFSA where she prepared healthful breakfasts for the members at the club meetings. She has interned at the Marilyn Magaram Center as a community educator and provided nutritional education and services promoted by the Center to students, faculty and community members at the CSUN Farmer’s Market. She strives to broaden her understanding of the field and become an expert in nutritional science through doctoral study. Mai’s goal is to become a mediator who can translate evidence-based nutritional information into easily accessible resources for the general public. Receiving the scholarship plays a key role in achieving her goals. She is sincerely honored and deeply appreciative to have been selected and thankful to the Owens for their generous support.
About the Scholarship: Nancy Owens taught in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences for 36 years, specializing in apparel design and merchandising. She was highly involved at CSUN and has continued volunteering at the university since her retirement. Nancy served as the university’s chapter advisor for Kappa Omicron Nu, the leading honor society for students in the human sciences. Nancy and her husband Joe have continued to support the society by creating this scholarship for an undergraduate and/or graduate student in the department who meets the academic requirements for membership in Kappa Omicron Nu.
The Nancy J. and Joseph N. Owens Scholarship in Apparel Design and Merchandising
Scholar: Jessica (Jessi) O’Connell
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Apparel Design and Production
About Jessi: Jessi grew up in Northern Nevada and travels back to her home-state between semesters at CSUN. She greatly enjoys the “life of clothes” and has always been intrigued with the role of clothing and the creativity that comes with designing. Jessi chose CSUN’s program because she gains a degree in the family and consumer sciences field and gets a better understanding of why the apparel industry is more of a science than an art.
In spring 2018, Jessi took on the role of director for the 39th annual TRENDS Fashion Show. In the future, she would like to become a costume preservationist, a stylist, and create her own line for men and women who have trouble with ready-to-wear garments. As a preservationist she hopes to save what has been made to stir inspiration in other young designers.
Since Jessi is an out of state resident, she is very grateful for having received this scholarship. It has helped her believe in herself more and has shown her that so many people are willing to help students achieve their dream of finishing college. She thanks Nancy and Joseph Owens for helping her in achieving her dream and making her one step closer to starting her life-long career in apparel.
About the Scholarship: Nancy Owens taught in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences for 36 years, specializing in apparel design and merchandising. She was highly involved at CSUN and has continued volunteering at the university since her retirement. Nancy and her husband Joe continue to support the university through their scholarship endowments that help students achieve their academic and career goals. This scholarship provides support to a student in the apparel design and merchandising program.
The Tom Chen Scholarship
Scholar: Lani Rausa
Year Awarded: 2018
Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences; Option in Nutrition and Dietetics
About Lani: Lani is currently working as a nutrition assistant at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and as a dietetic technician at the Center for Discovery (an eating disorder outpatient facility) in Woodland Hills. She is a co-fundraising treasurer for the Student Dietetics and Food Science Association at CSUN and she looks forward to taking on the role as vice-president in the fall. Lani has a culinary background and has been teaching the Summer Cooking Camp for children at the Marilyn Magaram Center. As a registered dietitian, Lani hopes to satisfy her many interests in the field of nutrition. These interests include, offering dietetic guidance to help optimize the performance of collegiate and professional athletes, working to help clients reach their nutritional goals, conducting research on nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, and promoting nutrition education programs in communities.
About the Scholarship: Dr. Tungshan “Tom” Chen was a professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department and the founding director of the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics. Marilyn Magaram met Dr. Chen while she was a master’s student and considered him a great mentor and friend. Unfortunately, Marilyn’s life was cut too short. As a tribute to her, Philip Magaram, Marilyn’s husband, and his family dedicated the Center as an honor to her memory. Tom was a large influence in seeing the Center transform from a concept to a reality after it opened in 1991. This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student and member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association (SDFSA) who is actively involved in programs and services hosted by the Center.
