And, through Penn State’s Nutrition Service Project (NSP), which she founded and directs, Penn State student volunteers are doing just that by teaching disadvantaged children the importance of nutrition and health.

            “Nutrition is a basic need that is not being met in many families,” said Burns, a junior majoring in nutrition and media studies in the Schreyer Honors College.  “I decided that when I went to college I would work to help disadvantaged children with nutrition because they need it the most.

            “The ultimate goal of the Nutrition Service Project is to help children with health and nutrition needs.  We won’t see any major changes in this country and the world until health needs are met.  While there are physical education programs in our public schools, there are no consistent nutrition programs.  I believe that, if we teach the importance of nutrition, ultimately it will lead to better health.”

            Burns became involved with children at a homeless shelter while a high school student in Falls Church, VA.  She established Y-NOT, a volunteer organization of students who regularly visit the shelter.  She still works as founding director and is in weekly contact with the group’s current leaders.

            As a Penn State sophomore in 1998, she initiated the Nutrition Service Project with four fellow students.  More than 25 students are now regularly involved in the nutrition education effort, which involves a week-long Spring Break Alternative in which members give up their annual Spring Break vacation to visit a Central Pennsylvania high school and present programs on health and nutrition

This is the third year the program is returning to the same community for the Spring Break Alternative.  NSP members teach younger students about nutrition in a fun, hands-on way.  The group does a pre-survey of the school students to address current nutrition and lifestyle habits.  After the weeklong program, NSP does a post-survey to assess if the program was effective and what lessons the students enjoyed most.

            The other major aspect of the project is a monthly local community program that focuses on nutrition and health for elementary age children.

            “We meet at a church in downtown State College and aim for a few simple activities through which children in local schools can learn about nutrition,” Burns said.  “One activity is making fruit kabobs and talking about why each fruit is healthy.   Other programs include a nutrition magician, funky faces and how the body digests food.

“The kids seem to really enjoy working with college students. We try to make it entertaining by providing a healthy but fun snack.  We want to change their perception that healthy food has to taste bad.  We hope to get them to understand that nutrition is important and that you can get healthy food that tastes good.  It can become a lifelong habit and a lifelong change.”

            Project members added two new programs this year.  Volunteers presented a program on diversity appreciation at an area elementary school on Martin Luther King Day.  They also provided nutrition education information for dancers in the 29^th annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which raised a record $3.6 million to aid families whose children are battling cancer.

            While devoting time and energy to the Nutrition Service Project, Burns has been able to maintain a 3.81 grade point average.  She also serves as a member of the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, Penn State’s Commission for Women and the Penn State Lion Ambassadors, an organization of outstanding students who work with the Alumni Association to advance the University.

            She has been honored for her nutrition education efforts by Time and Glamour magazines and last month (February) was named to the All-USA  College Academic First Team by USA Today.  She was one of 20 students named from 682 nominees.

            “Annina is exceptionally self-motivated and is an energetic worker and leader,” said Susan Kennedy, associate director of educational services in University Health Services, who served as her mentor for the first Spring Break Alternative Project.

            “She has the ability to initiate a project, develop it and get others involved.  She always is looking for the next opportunity to do something beneficial and worthwhile.  She will make her mark on the world and has already done so in high school and here at Penn State.”

            Burns has not limited her nutrition efforts to the academic year.  During the past two summers she served as an intern with the medical and nutrition department in CNN’s Washington News Bureau and at the National Institutes of Health in Betheseda, MD.  This summer she hopes to work at the National Cancer Institute researching different nutritional aspects of food to prevent certain cancers. She plans a career as a health broadcaster.

            “While you can understand the science of nutrition and health,” she said, “you need to be able to relay that information to the public, especially children. I really believe that how we work with children is the most important factor in achieving any significant changes in the world.”