FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lauren Ince, a junior in the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, has been named the undergraduate Outstanding Dietetic Student by the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Ince, a junior from Nashville, is majoring in human nutrition and hospitality innovation with a concentration in dietetics in Bumpers College's School of Human Environmental Sciences. Ince is president of the U of A Student Dietetic Association and vice president of Phi Upsilon Omicron, and is now eligible for the national award.

The award recognizes emerging leaders and high-achieving students in dietetics programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, and encourages them to participate in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at the local, state and national levels. Ince is now eligible for the national award.

"I am proud of Lauren," said Mechelle Bailey, clinical instructor and director of HESC's Didactic Program in Dietetics. "She is actively involved as president of the Student Dietetic Association, she is an outstanding student academically and has tremendous leadership skills. We have a strong history of producing quality students who are emerging leaders in the field of dietetics and Lauren is continuing that tradition. I am excited to see what her future holds."

Ince is the fourth Bumpers College student to win the award in five years. Taylor Martin was named the state's top student in 2013, Jessica Bradley in 2014 and Christina Crowder in 2015.

Ince will be working with the State Extension Office in Little Rock this summer. Her mother, Jean, is Howard County Extension Agent Staff Chair.

Ince was presented the award at the AAND annual meeting and exhibits in April in Little Rock. In addition, human nutrition instructor Nancy Buckley presented her research on the cooking skills of dietetic students before and after taking a Principles of Foods course. Buckley also presented at the national Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in the fall, and was a finalist in the Innovations in Teaching category.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.