Past Recipients

2021 - 2022 Recipients

Helen Furugen

First and foremost, I want to thank the AAPI MIG for selecting me as a recipient of this scholarship. As a second-generation Japanese American, I grew up very attached to my cultural background which largely influenced my decision to pursue a career in dietetics. My family comes from Okinawa, the southern-most prefecture of Japan. It is also known to be one of the world’s Blue Zones. The centenarians from Okinawa prove how diet and lifestyle affect our long-term health. 

My RDN journey started as an undergraduate student at California State University, Long Beach, and was fortunately matched to a distance dietitian internship program with Nutrition Ink upon graduation. The pandemic, however, hit amidst my internship causing half of my secured clinical rotations to be canceled and we completed the remaining required hours virtually. Upon getting my RDN credential, I kick-started my professional career as a Nutritionist with the WIC Program where I found my passion in helping prenatal moms and families with infants and young children. The next chapter within my dietetics career starts this fall at the University of California Davis where I will be studying to obtain the Masters of Advanced Studies in Maternal and Child Health. I hope to utilize the new information and skills I am about to learn to bridge the cultural barrier that prevents AAPI families from seeking nutritional help for their young children. 

Kristine Wong

"Kristine received her B.S. in Microbiology from UC San Diego.  After exploring different healthcare careers, she realized she could make the greatest impact through nutrition as a Registered Dietitian and will be an incoming student to USC’s M.S. in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity coordinated program. 

When she was 12, her grandma suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak.  Long before her stroke, her risk factors had included high blood pressure and cholesterol: preventable nutrition related diseases.  After her mom became a full-time caregiver, Kristine thought about how she could improve the quality of life of the elderly and their caregivers who are often their family members. This led her to develop a passion for prevention of chronic diseases through nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.

She loves empowering people to connect food to their health and helping others develop sustainable, healthy habits.  As an AAPI RD2B, she loves exploring foods from her Chinese & Japanese heritage and believes cultural foods should be included in the care process.  She promotes cultural foods and recipes to the public to help them develop sustainable, healthy, and culturally relevant eating patterns.  She believes that we need dietitians who are just as diverse as the populations we serve. 

AAPI MIG has given her a community of dietitians who share her culture, love of food and a place to practice her leadership skills, and she thinks anyone who is interested can get involved!  You can follow her journey in nutrition as an RD2B at @nutritionwithkristine." 

2020 - 2021 Recipient

Gemandy Langfelder

Gemady Langfelder is a graduate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Dietetics program. In college, Gemady worked as a nutrition research assistant, conducted a research project and was president of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Council in her senior year. She was also active in her community as a long-term volunteer and intern at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Health Promotion Department. She supported food security efforts in the Waianae coast through volunteer work. Additionally, she created nutrition education materials for children as an intern. Gemady will begin her combined dietetics internship and master’s program with Sodexo in the fall. Upon completion of the program, Gemady will take the Registered Dietitian exam. She plans to work in the clinical setting and to eventually establish a private practice. Upon obtaining work experience as an RD, Gemady hopes to pursue further education in either dietetics or public health. Her current interests include health disparities, women’s health, and nutrition education and behavior.  Gemady was born in the Philippines and lived in Japan for 10 years prior to moving to the United States. She is a personal trainer and co-owner of a personal training business. In her free time, she enjoys working out, gardening, reading and cooking.

2019 - 2020 Recipient

Kimberly Korff

Kimberly Korff is a Missouri State University alumna and dietetic intern at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. With roots in Japan, Hawaii, the Philippines and the rural Midwest, Kim loves connecting with all parts of her heritage through people and food. Her passions are counseling, international cooking, and making healthy eating tangible for the everyday consumer! She will soon begin her career as an entry-level dietitian and hopes to ultimately work toward a master's in counseling and a specialization in oncology or diabetes education.

2018 - 2019 Recipient

Angelina Bonanni

Angelina Bonanni is a graduate student completing a Coordinated Program in Dietetics, and working towards earning a master’s degree, in Nutrition and Food science, at Wayne State University. She serves as the vice president of the Wayne State University Student Dietetic Association, hospitality co-chair of her local state dietetic association, as well as student liaison for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her clinical experiences have inspired her to pursue a dietetic career in diabetes. In the future, one of her goals is to become a certified diabetes educator.