Award Descriptions

posted August 22, 2007

Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award

This is the highest honor bestowed on a member by TDA. It is designed to recognize and honor a Texas dietitian who has made outstanding and significant contribution to TDA as well as to the profession of dietetics.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Must be a member of ADA and TDA.
2. Must have lived and worked professionally in Texas for a minimum of 10 years and must reside in Texas at the time of this award.
3. Must have demonstrated leadership and/or outstanding accomplishment(s) as an officer, committee chair or committee member at the district, state or national level.
4. Must have made outstanding contributions to the goals of the profession, which are:
   To improve the nutrition of human beings
   To advance the science of nutrition and dietetics
   To promote education in dietetics, nutrition and/or allied health areas
   

Texas Distinguished Scientist Award

This is an honor bestowed on a member by TDA. It is designed to recognize and honor a Texas dietitian who has made outstanding and significant contributions to research in the field of dietetics, nutrition, food science or related sciences.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Must be a registered dietitian and an active member of ADA and TDA.
2. Must have lived and worked professionally in Texas for a minimum of 5 years and must reside in Texas at the time of this award.
3. Must have demonstrated initiative and/or outstanding accomplishments(s) in their research endeavors (i.e. grantsmanship, publications, research presentations).
   
4. Must have made outstanding contributions to the goals of the profession, which are:
   To improve the nutrition of human beings
   To advance the science of nutrition and dietetics
   To promote education in dietetics, nutrition and/or allied health areas
   

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Blue Bonnet Award

The Blue Bonnet Award of TDA is intended to recognize an individual who is not a dietitian but who has contributed significantly to the advancement of nutrition and dietetics in Texas.

 

Texas Dietetic Association Media Award

The Texas Dietetic Association Media Award is intended to recognize the individuals employed by newspapers, radio, television entities, or personalities that have made a positive contribution to the profession of dietetics or the promotion of nutrition/dietetics.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Must reside in Texas.
2. An individual/group who has made a significant contribution to the promotion, recognition or progress of nutrition/dietetics in Texas through use of mass media.
   

 

The American Dietetic Association Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award

The purpose of the outstanding educator awards program is to recognize the teaching, mentoring and leadership activities of faculty and preceptors in CADE-accredited and approved dietetics education programs. One educator or preceptor will be selected from each program type in each geographic area.

Texas is allowed to nominate 4 educators, one from each dietetics education program (Didactic Program in Dietetics, Dietetic Technician Program, Dietetic Internship/Preprofessional Practice Program and Coordinated Program).
Criteria for Selection:

1. Member of ADA and TDA
2. Faculty with academic or supervised practice appointments or preceptors in CADE-accredited and approved dietetics educations programs (CP, DI/AP4, DPD and DT).
3. Demonstrated innovative teaching skills and techniques
4. Demonstrated mentoring as documented by letters from students (limit 3 letters/nominee)
5. Demonstrated leadership; e.g., national, state or district dietetic association activities, community service, honors received, scientific and professional presentations, publications, employment, etc.
   

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The American Dietetic Association Dietetics Student Awards Program

The purpose of the outstanding student awards program is to recognize the emerging leadership and achievement of student in CADE-accredited and approved dietetics education programs and encourage their participation in ADA. As student from each type of education program (Didactic Program in Dietetics, Dietetic Technician Program, Dietetic Internship/Preprofessional Practice Program and Coordinated Program) may be selected.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Member of ADA and TDA. Students must be members by January 1st of the year in which they would receive the award.
2. Student enrolled in CADE-accredited or approved dietetics education program (CP, DI/AP4, DPD and DT).
3. Demonstrated academic achievement as documented by letters from program faculty or preceptor.
4. Demonstrated leadership and professional potential; e.g., honors, student dietetic association activities, community service activities, etc.
   

 

Emerging Dietetic Leader

The purpose of the Emerging Dietetic Leader Award is to recognize the competence and activities of dietitians regardless of their age, who have made distinctive contributions early in their dietetics careers to ADA. The award encourages their continued participation in Association affairs. This more mature/older group will be an additional resource from which the leadership of The Association will develop at the district, state and national levels.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Member of ADA.
2. Initial practice experience not less than 5 years but not greater than 10 years. Interrupted careers or time periods not in practice, are not to be considered or rationed into the 5-10 years of professional experience.
3. Active participation in the national, state or district association for at least 5 years.
4. Not previously selected as RYDY or RDTY.
5. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population.
6. Demonstrated leadership, e.g., in legislation, research, education, management, etc., in the Association, community or employment.
   

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Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (RYDY)

The purpose of the RYDY program is to recognize the competence and activities of younger dietitians in ADA and to encourage their continued participation in Association affairs.  This group will be an additional resource from which the leadership of the Association will develop both at the district, state and national levels.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Member of ADA
2. Age limit as of April 1, 2005 deadline, 35 years or younger.
3. Active participation in the national, state or district association.
   
4. Not previously selected as an RYDY.
   
5. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population.
   
6. Demonstrated leadership, e.g., in legislation, research, education, management, etc., either in the Association or employment.
   

 

Recognized Dietetic Technician of the Year (RDTY)

The purpose of the Recognized Dietetic Technician of the Year Award is to recognize the professional contributions of dietetic technicians in ADA and to encourage their continued participation in Association Affairs.
Criteria for Selection:

1. Technician membership in ADA
2. Active participation in national, affiliate, or district association
   
3. Not previously selected for this award
   
4. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population
   
5. Demonstrated leadership, e.g., legislation, research education, clinical dietetics, foods service management, public relations, career guidance, etc., in Association or employment.
   

 

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