Savannah Delger Recognized By Montana State University
Author: Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service
Anne Cantrell
MSU News Service
This article was provided by the Montana State University News Service
BOZEMAN — In the midst of a challenging situation, Savannah Delger isn’t one to stand back and watch; she’d rather dive in and help. So, when her father was diagnosed with a kidney disease known as IgA nephropathy while she was in high school, Delger worked with a dietitian to come up with a nutrition plan to help him manage it and delay dialysis, she said.
Delger found that she really enjoyed the work. And, she said, it led her to dream of a career as a dietitian. On Friday, she’ll take a significant step toward her career goal when she walks across the stage in Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse to receive a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition as part of MSU’s 140th commencement ceremonies. Family members will be there to cheer her on, including her dad, who she says is her No. 1 supporter. Then, just three days later, Delger will begin a two-year Master of Science and Dietetic Internship graduate program at MSU.
“I’m very excited (about commencement), but it doesn’t feel complete yet because I do have to continue going to school (to become a registered dietitian nutritionist),” she said. “Graduation feels like another stepping stone to where I want to be.”
While a student at MSU, Delger, who is from Townsend, distinguished herself in the food and nutrition program, part of MSU’s Department of Food Systems, Nutrition and Kinesiology in the College of Education, Health and Human Development. She was president of the MSU student chapter of the Montana Student Dietetics Association, earned the statewide Outstanding Dietetics Student Didactic Program in Dietetics Award from the Montana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and worked as a food and nutrition associate at Bozeman Health – all while maintaining a 3.85 GPA and earning highest honors.
Some of her work in the program also led to outreach in the community. As part of a project in her senior capstone class, Delger and five of her classmates provided nutrition education for cancer patients and their families. Through a partnership with the nonprofit Cancer Support Community Montana, the students offered classes focused on nutrition for overall well-being, nutrition during cancer treatment and nutrition to help foster healing after treatment.
Delger said she learned from the experience that it’s important to tailor the information being shared to those who are receiving it.
“It’s so easy to throw complicated nutrition information at someone, but if they don’t have the energy to make a big, grand meal, that information doesn’t help them at all,” she said.
She added that she hopes the classes benefited those who took them.
“I hope we made the information more accessible to people and helped people understand how important nutrition can be,” Delger said.
Through her work with the Montana Student Dietetics Association student organization at MSU, Delger focused on building a strong community for nutrition students, she said, including creating ways for students to ask their peers about classwork. She and others in that organization also found volunteer opportunities for students, since most master’s programs in the field require volunteer experience. Students volunteered with the Bounty of the Bridgers food pantry at MSU, at an event hosted by the local nonprofit Gallatin Valley Farm to School, and for the Bobcat Pounce 5K, an annual scholarship fundraiser put on by the College of Education, Health and Human Development.
Delger said her work at Bozeman Health was beneficial because it exposed her to a clinical setting and to working with people with different dietary needs, such as individuals following renal, diabetic or heart-healthy diets.
And, she said, she found it gratifying to participate in a new mentoring program for students pursuing a major in food and nutrition. Delger mentored a student who was a few years behind her in school.
“It was rewarding to walk somebody through phases (of the program) that I was confused in,” Delger said.
Going through her first year of college during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging, Delger said, but it provided lasting lessons. Delger enrolled at MSU in the fall of 2020; because most of her classes met remotely, she spent most of her time in her residence hall room.
“I definitely learned not to take anything for granted because of that experience,” she said.
As she looks back at her time at Montana State, Delger said she’s proud of the strong community that she found and helped shape in the food and nutrition program. She said that’s what she’ll miss the most after graduation.
“I made a ton of friends, especially within the nutrition group,” she said. “They’re incredible people and hard workers. They also motivate me. They’re so on top of things and just a great group of people.”
MSU instructor and Delger’s adviser, Jessi Peterson, food and nutrition lead, said Delger has greatly impacted the food and nutrition program during her time at MSU.
“Savannah is an incredible student leader who grew membership in our student organization and created more opportunities for involvement in the MSU and Bozeman community than the club has had in years,” Peterson said. “Savanna is going to be an incredible asset to our profession and the people of Montana.”
After completing the master’s degree and internship program through MSU, Delger hopes to pursue a career as a dietitian specializing in the nutritional needs of people with chronic kidney disease. She is also interested in working with oncology patients and with veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Wherever she ends up, Delger hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of her patients. That goal reminds her of why she decided to pursue a career in dietetics in the first place.
“It all goes back to my dad,” Delger said. “Knowing that at the end of this, I’m going to be able to go into practice and help families just like mine will be incredibly rewarding.”
Contact: Savanna Delger, savannadelger@gmail.com
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: MSU photo by Colter Peterson
Image 1 Caption: Savanna Delger will take a significant step toward her goal of becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist when she walks across the stage May 10 in MSU’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse to receive a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition.
Photo Credits: MSU photo by Colter Peterson
