Food Science Students Selected to Receive Scholarships from the Idaho Milk Processors Association

Utah State University students Dayna Makela and Jaylee Bastian have each been awarded $2,000 scholarships by the Idaho Milk Processors Association (IMPA). The association awards scholarships annually that are funded by donations from IMPA members to help students achieve their educational  and professional goals. Bastion and Makela are both food science majors in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences.

Bastian, who is from American Fork, UT, said, “One thing I love about food science is that it is part of everyone's life whether they know it or not. There are so many areas and emphases that everyone can find something they are interested in. It is also a lot of fun to experiment with foods and their properties.”

She added that food science is a broad field and she plans to explore and learn as much as she can about the many facets of food science. So far that has included work in operations, research and development, and production working with chocolate, meat, dairy, and vegan foods.

Makela said she is driven by a passion for food and loves learning details of the science behind all kinds of food. She is from Ogden, UT, and is working toward a career in food safety.

“I plan to complete the Quality Assurance Team Advisor Training Program with Schreiber Foods after graduation,” she said.

Asked about their favorite dairy products, Bastian said she likes cream cheese for its combination of flavor and texture. Makela said ice cream tops her list.

“Ice cream is versatile with all the flavors out there,” Makela said. “I could eat it every day, and my favorite flavor of ice cream is actually another dairy product—eggnog.”