2025 NEAFCS State, Regional and National Award Winners
Cindy Nelson
Continued Excellence Award
This award recognizes NEAFCS members who have previously recieved the Distinguished Service Award and continue to be actively involved in professional improvement programs, the promotion of professional development of others, and leadership. Must have been a member for at least 12 years and attended three or more annual sessions.
Tricia Mathis
Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes NEAFCS members who have previously recieved the Distinguished Service Award and continue to be actively involved in professional improvement programs, the promotion of professional development of others, and leadership. Must have been a member for at least 12 years and attended three or more annual sessions.
NEAFCS State, Regional and National Award Winners
The School Wellness Award was to recognize outstanding school-based programs to promote and improve physical, emotional, and/or social wellness of students, staff or families of students in the school community.
1st Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Cindy Nelson, Minersville School and Community Pickleball Program
The Communications Award is to encourage excellence in communications.
1st Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Jenna Dyckman and Team, Cooking for Diabetes: An Engaging Video Series for Healthier Living
The Program Excellence through Research Award is to recognize NEAFCS members as both researchers and users of research. This award emphasizes the use of research results to improve existing programs or to develop new programs.
1st Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Ashley Yaugher and Team, Be Epic, Escape the Vape Program
The Innovation in Program Award recognizes innovation and accomplishments in the design and implementation of an FCS program.
1st Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Gabi Murza and Team, USU Extension's Opioid Overdose Response Trainings
The Innovative Youth Development Programming Award recognizes innovation and accomplishment in the design and implementation of an FCS program for a youth target audience (non-4-H audience).
2nd Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Jenna Dyckman, Yoga Story Time
The Florence Hall Award recognizes members who have been alert in recognizing emerging issues or new concerns and interests of families or individuals and have planned and implemented programs and involved people in planning and implementing programs that benefit families/individuals.
2nd Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Naomi Brower and Team, USU Hidden Gems Adventure Guides
The Human Development/Family Relationships Award recognizes innovative human development/family relationships educational efforts including child care, parenting, relationships through the lifespan, marriage enrichment, communications (parent/child), retirement, aging, stress management, and related issues.
2nd Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Andrea Schmutz and Team, Becoming an Outdoors Woman
The Excellence in Teamwork Award recognizes outstanding FCS programming presented by a multi-disciplinary team.
3rd Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Celina Wille and Team, Expanding SNAP-Ed to Spanish-Speaking Audiences
The Family Health and Wellness Award recognizes innovative programs that promote and improve the health and wellness of families including but not limited to nutrition, fitness, family meals, meal planning, time or stress management, and healthy lifestyle.
3rd Place Western Region Winner; State-Level Winner
- Andrea Schmutz and Team, Empowering Financial Wellness
UEAFCS State Award Winners
1st Place State Winner
- Palak Gupta, NourishSmart: Food Waste Reduction Program
2nd Place State Winner
- Emma Parkhurst, Food Preservation for High School Culinary Arts Students
1st Place State Winner
- Jenna Dyckman and Team, Nurturing New Beginnings: Expanding Access to Prenatal Education
2nd Place State Winner
- Matt Huntington and Team, Tooele County Jail Exit Preparation Program
State Winner
- Jenna Dyckman, Cache County Lunch and Learn Wellness Program
State Winner
- Christina Pay and Team, Quick and Easy Cooking
State Winner
- Jenna Dyckman, Yoga Story Time: Encouraging Movement, Mindfulness, and Literacy
1st Place State Winner
- Gabi Murza and Team, Utah State University Extension's Opioid Overdose Response Training Team Addresses Needs Among the Latino Community
2nd Place State Winner
- Palak Gupta and Team, NourishTank Program for Solving Hunger