Athlete of the Year & Scholarships

The CPSDA "Athlete of the Year" Award recognizes one male and one female collegiate, Olympic, professional or tactical (military, police or fire) athlete whose athletic accomplishments, in the opinion of the sports dietitian, reflect dedication to sports nutrition. The two nominating sports dietitians whose athletes are selected will be recognized at CPSDA's Annual Conference Awards Banquet.

CPSDA members can nominate one or more athletes who represent the very best of performance nutrition:

  • Used sports nutrition to help overcome a health or performance hurdle.
  • Taught you nearly as much as they learned from you.
  • Inspired how you deliver sports nutrition to benefit others.
  • Impacted the sports nutrition culture of those around them.
  • Used sports nutrition as a turning point to meet performance goals.
  • Made a simple change (eating breakfast regularly, carrying a water bottle, improving sleep patterns) that resulted in improved performance.
  • Used a food-first approach while learning to wisely choose third-party tested dietary supplements.

The nomination period for the 2023 Athlete of Year Award will open Monday, November 28, 2022 through midnight EST Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Submit a Nomination


Professional Scholarships:

CPSDA has moved to a rolling professional scholarship application process with the desire and intention to extend our reach, provide more opportunities for our members who wish to continue to advance their practice, enhance their knowledge, and become leaders within the field of sports nutrition. Applications will be reviewed within 3 weeks of submission.  Please note that if a scholarship is awarded, it may not cover all expenses.

Scholarship criteria includes:
  • Explained desired outcome and how it will enhance you as a professional
  • Barriers/Challenges

Apply Now


Cheribundi Student Scholarships:

On behalf of Cheribundi, CPSDA awards two $1,500 scholarships applied for the 2023-2024 academic year (July 2023-June 2024) for two current CPSDA student members studying to become a sports dietitian in an undergraduate academic or dietetic internship program or graduate academic program. The scholarships will be awarded to two individuals - one undergraduate and one graduate - who exemplify all that it takes to be a sports dietitian.

Scholarship criteria includes:

  • Leadership and community service
  • Nutrition-related experience
  • Paid or unpaid work experience
  • Sports nutrition mission statement explaining your vision of the future of sports nutrition

The application period for 2023-2024 scholarships is Monday, November 28, 2022 through midnight EST Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Apply for the Cheribundi Undergraduate Scholarship
Apply for the Cheribundi Graduate Scholarship


CPSDA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Dietetic Internship Scholarship:

CPSDA will award 1 (one) $7,000 scholarship to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC) student pursuing a career in sports nutrition to attend an accredited dietetic internship of their choice for the 2022-2023 calendar year. The scholarship winner will also receive complimentary registration at either 2024 CPSDA Sports Nutrition Boot Camp or to the 2023 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a 1 year CPSDA student membership and the opportunity to be connected with a mentor, if desired. This scholarship will be awarded to one candidate who best demonstrates the characteristics it takes to excel as a sports dietitian.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for the CPSDA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship, the applicant must:
  • Have or be anticipating an undergraduate degree conferral in Dietetics, Nutrition, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Chemistry, Biology or other nutrition related field.
  • Identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern and North African, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and/or multiracial.
  • Applicant's may currently be enrolled and completing their Dietetic Internship, however cannot have completed the DI prior the scholarship award being announced.
  • Applicant selected to receive the award must show proof of a Dietetics Internship match by April 12, 2023.
Application Requirements:
  • Submission of an unofficial or official transcript
  • Current resume
  • An Interest and Qualification Statement that describes your interest in the field of performance nutrition, outline your experience with athletics, and address why you meet the application qualification of being from an underrepresented group. (1 page in length)
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation.  One from a current DPD director, academic advisor, or professor and one from an employer, professional CPSDA member, or professional mentor. References should give pertinent information as to the applicants' character, scholastic ability, and professional

The application period for 2023-2024 scholarship is Monday, November 28, 2022 through midnight EST Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Apply Now


CPSDA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

Questions? Contact CPSDA Scholarship and Awards Committee Chair Beth McCall at [email protected].

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