Scholarships in Family and Consumer Sciences 2020

Scholar: Marie Torres

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics, Human Nutrition)

About Scholarship Recipient: Marie’s interest in studying childhood obesity has been the driving force behind her work of creating a hands-on cooking workshop and curriculum series at Palmdale High School. She hopes to expand her workshop program and thus help to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in Southern California. She is currently applying to dietetic internships in the efforts of becoming a registered dietitian. As a dietitian, Marie strives to continue serving communities in need. When she is not focusing on her academic and career goals, she is usually reading, running or performing Aztec dance.

Scholar: Theodore Roosevelt Mitchell

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Human Nutrition)

About Scholarship Recipient: Theodore was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles. He is currently a student researcher with undergraduate degrees in clinical nutrition and neuroscience, as well as psychology and wellness. His studies focus on healing trauma at the individual, community, and public health levels. Theodore has worked in community development, healthcare, and social services. He is a member of multiple community organizations, including All of Us or None (AOUON). AOUON is a national organization focused on civil rights and enhancing the quality of life for systems impacted people. He is also a member of West2West, an African Diaspora Centered organization focused on community development, culture, education, and health. Theodore’s goals include working to integrate trauma informed care and a healing centered engagement in the field of nutrition. 

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.

Scholar: Divjot Kaur

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Consumer Affairs)

About Scholarship Recipient: Divjot grew up in a tiny village in India and immigrated to the United States at a young age. She graduated from CSUN (Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, Consumer Affairs option, and double minor in Management and Marketing. She was the recipient of the Family and Consumer Sciences Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in 2018. She was also awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the Corporation for National and Community. She enjoys giving back to the community, accumulating over 400 service hours at different hospitals and non-profit organizations. Divjot has also been an intern at the US Federal Trade Commission, in the Los Angeles Regional Office, where she worked on consumer protection investigations. She is grateful to Pastor Herrera for his generous support and she hopes to one day be able to provide future students with similar opportunities to lighten their financial burden while pursuing an education. Divjot’s career goal is to provide all consumers, regardless of their occupation, adequate education about their rights and bring awareness to individuals in how to avoid falling victim to unsafe services.

Scholar: Maria Lizardo

Year Awarded: 2020  

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Family Studies and Consumer Affairs)

About Scholarship Recipient: In addition to being a student and working part-time at an adolescent treatment center, Maria is a wife, and a mother to two boys. Her children are her biggest motivation and inspire her to be active in their educational endeavors and keep abreast of child development education to nurture their growth in a positive and enriching manner. After graduation, she hopes to become an advocate for education on a broader scale and work directly with families that face challenges that prevent them from being engaged in their children’s educations. This would include providing families with educational resources that are available within their communities, educating parents on social emotional and cognitive areas of child development, as well as providing her personal insight in supporting children as a parent and mentor. 

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. 

Scholar: Karim Damji

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Human Nutrition – Dietetic Internship

About Scholarship Recipient: Karim graduated from CSUN in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science. As an undergrad, Karim worked at the CSUN Student Recreation Center as a personal trainer. After graduating, he interned as a research assistant in various nutrition projects along the Thai-Myanmar border with Shoklo Malaria Research Unit. In his free time, he enjoys kickboxing, cooking, drinking coffee, and spending time with family.

Scholar: Maria Lizardo

Year Awarded: 2020  

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Family Studies and Consumer Affairs)

About Scholarship Recipient: In addition to being a student and working part-time at an adolescent treatment center, Maria is a wife, and a mother to two boys. Her children are her biggest motivation and inspire her to be active in their educational endeavors and keep abreast of child development education to nurture their growth in a positive and enriching manner. After graduation, she hopes to become an advocate for education on a broader scale and work directly with families that face challenges that prevent them from being engaged in their children’s educations. This would include providing families with educational resources that are available within their communities, educating parents on social emotional and cognitive areas of child development, as well as providing her personal insight in supporting children as a parent and mentor.

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.  

Scholar: Shelby Becker

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)

About Scholarship Recipient: Shelby discovered a great passion for caring for the elderly and Hispanic communities while volunteering at Adventist Glendale Hospital. She hopes to one day become a dietitian and looks forward to being able to advise elderly individuals on how they can use food to improve their health. Shelby’s interests include being in the outdoors, creating new vegetarian foods, and dancing.

Scholar: Alexis Swanson-Coleman

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)

About Scholarship Recipient: Alexis has a deep passion to enhance the health of others holistically. It is her career goal to become a dietitian. She is currently a project leader for a research project funded by the Marilyn Magaram Center to enhance peer-to-peer health promotion skills in middle school children. Alexis enjoys being involved in several clubs on campus and wants to continue to utilize her skills and passions to make the world a better place. 

Scholar: Alondra Valdez

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)  

About Scholarship Recipient: Alondra grew up in Wasco, California and graduated from Bakersfield College in Spring 2019. She came to CSUN in Fall 2019 to pursue her studies in nutrition. Her plan is to obtain a master’s degree and possibly a doctorate as well. She strives to receive her certification as a registered dietitian with a focus on working with patients suffering from eating disorders. 

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.

Scholar: Emma Lindsley

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Didactic Program in Dietetics

About Scholarship Recipient: Emma has zeal for life that has been evident since she was a young girl navigating the challenges of having a genetic disorder called Nail Patella Syndrome. She is currently, a diet-technician at the Center for Discovery, where she works with individuals suffering from eating disorders. She also mentors high school students weekly through a program called Young Life. Her long-term goals are to work at a registered dietitian and open a Christian summer camp for high school students with her husband. 

Scholar: Chloe Hartounian

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics)  

About Scholarship Recipient: Chloe plans to become a registered dietitian and work within her community. She is currently an intern with the Child Nutrition Leadership Internship at the CSUN Child and Family Studies Center through the Marilyn Magaram Center. In her free time she enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends. 

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.

Scholar: Tala Derakhshan

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Apparel Design and Production)  

About Scholarship Recipient: Tala’s goal is to obtain a position as a fashion designer with her own line of clothing. She is thankful for her supportive CSUN instructors from whom she has learned so much. She is honored to be the recipient of this scholarship that will help her in reaching her goals.

Scholar: Sara Safabakhsh

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Apparel Design and Production) 

About Scholarship Recipient: Sara loves attending CSUN and is currently working on her collection, interning for LSO Designs by Linda Stokes, and working part-time, all while maintaining a high grade point average. She hopes to have a career in the fashion industry.

 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.

Scholar: Laura Ann Horwitz

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science)

About Scholarship Recipient: Laura returned to CSUN in 2014 to pursue a career change with the ultimate goal of becoming a registered dietitian. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music and a Master of Arts degree in Choral Conducting from CSUN. Laura participated in the Marilyn Magaram Center Internship program from two years prior to becoming a student leader in May 2018. She is a member of the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association and served two terms on the executive board during her time in CSUN's didactic program in dietetics.

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.