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Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (HNFE) Scholarships and Awards

All scholarships and awards listed are for HNFE students ONLY

HNFE offers the following awards and scholarships to exceptional applicants. Interested applicants can apply for these awards in Scholarship Central.  

Scholarships and Awards for Undergraduate Students in HNFE

The following awards and scholarships are exclusively available to students enrolled in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (HNFE) at Virginia Tech.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Hokie Spirit Endowed Scholarship
Established by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation in 2008 to honor the victims of the April 16, 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech. This scholarship recognizes undergraduate students in HNFE with financial need and exceptional commitment to community service. To the extent possible, preference will be given to those whose community service has been in cultural integration. Two tuition scholarships will be awarded (equal fall and spring semester distributions), depending on qualified applicants.

George A. Oley III Fund for Excellence
George A. Oley III received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry from Virginia Tech in 1975 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the Medical College of Virginia in 1979. Everyone in his family attended medical school. He has an interest in community service and Virginia Tech sports. The Fund for Excellence is open to all HNFE undergraduate students.

Brenda H. Rohe Dietetic Scholarship
Presented by the Rohe family in honor of Brenda H. Rohe, a distinguished graduate of HNFE’s dietetics program, this scholarship is awarded to a rising junior or senior student in HNFE who is a dietetics major from southwest Virginia or North Carolina. The recipient must have demonstrated academic excellence, extracurricular leadership, community service, and a remarkable aptitude for a career in dietetics. Applicants must have a permanent residence in North Carolina, or one of the following Virginia counties/cities to be eligible: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, or Wythe.

Forrest W. Thye Excellence Fund
Named after associate professor emeritus of HNFE, Forrest W. Thye, this fund is open to undergraduate students in HNFE. Established to support student learning and experience in research, preference for first-year awards will be given to rising sophomores in HNFE. Successful applicants will show strong academic achievement (grade point average [GPA] of 3.0 or above); remain in HNFE as their major; maintain a steadfast commitment to conducting undergraduate research throughout their tenure at Virginia Tech; promote an environment of parity and accessibility; are willing to participate in a yearly course, which includes both oral and written presentations of their research projects; and/or present their research findings once per year at an appropriate venue (e.g., Virginia Tech Undergraduate Research Conference, national or international research conference, or other open forum).

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Outstanding Senior Award, HNFE candidate
Each major in CALS selects an outstanding senior undergraduate student for their major. All seniors who plan to graduate in May, August, or December of the current academic year, with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, are eligible to be nominated by HNFE faculty. The awardee will be selected based on outstanding performance in several or all of the following areas: academic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, and/or contributions of service to the university and/or community.

Scholarhips and Awards for Graduate Students in HNFE

Margaret Ellen Carter Hepler Summer Research Fellowships
HNFE's Graduate Program Director will notify students when applications are due.

This endowment, which was established in 1991 in memory of Margaret Ellen Carter Hepler by her spouse, Tillman M. Hepler, provides fellowships for graduate students in HNFE with financial support to work on their research projects over the summer months. The number of awards and the stipend amount vary from year to year.

Any HNFE graduate student who is actively working towards completion of a Master of Science (MS) thesis or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) dissertation project is eligible. Priority will be given to students who have not previously been awarded this fellowship.

Note: Students may not concurrently hold both a Hepler Fellowship and a graduate assistantship for the summer. Students who have completed data collection for their degree and are in the phase of analyzing data or writing their thesis/dissertation are not eligible.

Michael Houston Memorial Scholarship
This award is given annually in memory of Michael Houston, professor emeritus and former HNFE department head. It supports the research pursuits of a graduate student in HNFE who is funded by a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) and who demonstrates a passion for teaching and excitement for learning.

HNFE Travel Fund
HNFE supports graduate student travel to scientific conferences and professional development opportunities through an awards process. Applications are accepted throughout the year for students presenting at scientific conferences. Students may submit a request for funding one time during the academic year.

Master's and Doctoral level students in HNFE can apply only if they are presenting a paper or poster at a scientific conference or professional development meeting (e.g., American College of Sports Medicine, American Society for Nutrition)

How and when to apply
HNFE graduate students need to: 

Policies and Procedures

  1. All travel fund applications should be submitted within one week of submitting a conference abstract.
  2. Students receiving the travel award will be reimbursed for costs up to the amount of $1,000. No reimbursements will be provided above the award amount.
  3. The Travel Fund Reimbursement Form must be completed, as requested, and submitted to the graduate program coordinator in HNFE.
  4. Students may request funding one time during the academic year. 
  5. Meal reimbursements may only be granted if an individual is traveling overnight. All meal or food purchases will be reimbursed per diem; therefore, graduate students do not need to keep receipts for food.
  6. Please note: Notice of travel award and funding approval must be granted prior to travel. All travel applications must be approved before travel. Retroactive applications will not be accepted.
  7. Notice of award approval will be sent one month after application submission. Further instructions and details will be included in the award email. 

Failure to follow provided instructions will result in loss of award.

Scholarships and Awards for both Undergraduate and Graduate Students in HNFE

Ann A. Hertzler Memorial Research Grant
Ann A. Hertzler was a professor pmerita of HNFE who retired from Virginia Tech in 2001. Her work focused on nutrition issues facing families and children, and she maintained her passion for that subject even after retiring.

This annual grant, awarded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, funds research proposals based on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Research Agenda for Dietetics. The deadline is February 10 each year. To find the application within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, select the "+" button next to “Research Grants”. Contact the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at 312-899-4768 for more information or assistance, if needed. 

The Ann A. Hertzler Memorial Research Grant is available to HNFE undergraduate and graduate students.

Louis M. Briel Scholarship
Established in memory of Louis McGuire Briel, a former member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets who graduated in 1960, this scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students in HNFE. The criteria for this scholarship are: financial need, academic achievement, and good character demonstrated by community service. 

Note: Only students eligible for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may apply. The determination of financial need will be confirmed by the CALS Office of Academic Programs.

P. Howard Massey Food and Nutrition Award
P. Howard Massey had a distinguished 36-year teaching career at Virginia Tech that included service as associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, director of Agronomic and Plant Sciences, director of International Development, and chair of the University Committee on International Programs. He valued interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving that addressed evolving issues related to food and nutrition in the United States and abroad.

The award will provide scholarships or travel funds for students traveling to present or attend a national or international conference. In addition, funds can be awarded for appropriate training or exchange programs, including study abroad and mission trips. This award is available to HNFE undergraduate and graduate students.

Sebolt Fitness/Wellness Research Award
This This award is given in memory of Don Sebolt, a professor emeritus in HNFE who helped shape Virginia Tech's curriculum and research in health, physical education and exercise science. It recognizes undergraduate or graduate student research in HNFE related to the health benefits of physical activity, exercise, and/or physiological aspects of exercise related to athletic performance or improved human health. Preference will be given to students who plan a career in exercise science; a health profession such as athletic training, physical therapy, or health coach; or teaching physical fitness in secondary or higher education.