By Dahlia Davis
Office of University Marketing and Communications
University of Central Arkansas graduate student Alyssa Frisby has been named a recipient of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation’s Colonel Filomena Manor Memorial Scholarship.
Alyssa Frisby
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is the largest provider of dietetic scholarships, awarding $500 to $10,000 in scholarships each year to deserving students at all levels of study. The Colonel Filomena Manor Memorial Scholarship was established in honor of Filomena Manor, the first woman commissioned directly into the Air Force Women’s Medical Specialist Corps as a second lieutenant.
“Receiving this scholarship award inspires me to explore the possibilities that exist within the dietetics profession and look for ways I can make a measurable impact for others thanks to my nutrition education,” Frisby said. “To receive a scholarship from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is a great honor for me and makes me believe others see potential in me to achieve my goals. It fuels me to want to make the most of my experience as a graduate student and dietetic intern at UCA so I can be prepared for my future as a registered dietitian.”
Frisby, a student in the Master of Science dietetic internship program, earned her Bachelor of Science in nutrition from UCA in May 2020. She has served as president of the UCA Student Dietetic Association and as president of UCA’s Student Wellness Ambassadors Program.
UCA’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences selected Frisby as the 2020 Outstanding Student of the Year. Frisby also volunteered on the Student Advisory Committee for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics during her senior year.
“My professors at UCA, both in the family and consumer sciences department and my biology and chemistry professors, have been incredibly supportive and motivating during my time at UCA,” Frisby said. “My experiences at UCA helped me build a strong resume and gave me confidence to pursue national scholarships and opportunities within professional organizations.”
Frisby received a Bachelor of Arts in mass media communications from the College of Charleston in 2009. She was inspired to go back to school to become a registered dietician nutritionist after leading a Women Run Arkansas 5K training clinic in her community of Lonoke and balancing her personal nutrition with being a mother.
Frisby currently serves as first vice-chair of service and outreach on the student unit for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and volunteers as social media coordinator for the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
She hopes to become a registered dietitian nutritionist after she graduates and passes the Registration Examination for Dietitians in August 2021.
