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K-State Today

April 11, 2017

Grace M. Shugart Lecture Series features 43rd annual lecture April 12

Submitted by Anne Rubash

The annual Shugart Lecture Series brings leaders in the dietetics and foodservice management professions to K-State for the enrichment of students and to provide continuing education for practitioners.

Martin Yadrick, a registered dietitian nutritionist, will present "Nutrition Informatics: More Than Just Using Technology" at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the in the Business Building lecture hall, Room 1088 during the 43rd annual Shugart Lecture Series.

The lecture series was established in 1975 and honors the late Grace M. Shugart, former department head in the College of Human Ecology and co-author of "Food for Fifty" and "Food Service in Institutions."

Shugart had a passion for food — her favorites to make were cookies, barbecue ribs and latkes with warm applesauce. Along with her husband, Harold, they had a garden with exceptional tomatoes, and they ate these tomatoes in season at almost every meal, recollects Mary Molt, assistant professor in the food, nutrition, dietetics and health department. Event planning was another passion of Shugart's, and she was known to throw a wonderful party with fabulous and creative food. What is most remembered about Shugart is her kindness toward students and faculty — she had a soft spot for graduate students. The Shugart Lecture Series was born out of her desire to bring industry leaders to campus to meet students and the lecture series was a manifestation of her dream. 

During her career, Shugart helped build the profession of dietetics and institutional management throughout the United States, serving as president of the American Dietetic Association, currently the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She also was a Medallion Award winner and received the Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' highest honor. In Shugart's tenure as department head she positioned K-State as a leader in preparing dietetic practitioners and educators for foodservice management positions in Kansas and beyond.