Diane Reinhold, Nutrition and Wellness Educator with the University of Illinois Extension, has recently been honored with multiple awards, both at the state and national levels, recognizing her contributions to nutrition and wellness education. With 11 years of service to Extension serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties, Reinhold has proven herself as a respected leader in nutrition education.
At the 2024 Illinois Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (IEAFCS) State Awards, Reinhold’s efforts were celebrated with two first-place awards and a second-place award for three different programs. These selected programs were recognized again at the 2024 National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) National Awards, where she placed first in the central region with her I MADE That! publication series; second in the central region for her Food Allergies in Schools program; and third-place nationally, for the Florence Hall Award for the Community Seminar Series.
Reinhold’s I MADE that! program consisted of educational information geared towards youth in the kitchen. The publications included fun activities, cooking tips, healthy lifestyles, and encouraged participation in the Illinois 4-H program.
The Food Allergies in Schools program provides relevant, up-to-date information about food allergies and guidelines for implementing school nutrition policies as well as increasing the knowledge of nutrition staff who provide healthy school meals.
The Community Seminar Series provides education to University of Illinois graduate students by mentorship from Extension Educators. The goal of this series is to improve graduate students’ science communication skills.
"I am incredibly proud of Diane Reinhold for receiving state and national recognition of her work. Her dedication and commitment to excellence has been a testament to the positive impact Extension has had in our local communities,” remarks University of Illinois Extension County Director Margaret Larson.
Through her work with the University of Illinois Extension, Reinhold offers a variety of educational programs focused on nutrition, wellness, food preservation and food safety. For more information about Diane Reinhold’s programs or to inquire about upcoming events, visit go.illinois.edu/jsw.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.