The Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences will be accepting applications for the Richard and Susan Hopp Memorial Award (Hopp) to support Nutrition and Food Science majors who engage in undergraduate research, internships and/or practicum activities between May 18 and August 21, 2026.

The application period for Hopp Awards to fund summer undergraduate research, internships or practicum experiences is now open. Applications are due no later than April 12, 2026. Award recipients may receive up to three (3) credits worth of research/internship/practicum applied to summer tuition with a small extra stipend ($400/credit hour) applied to their student account.

Eligibility requirements

  • All NFS majors
  • NFS students must have applied for their undergraduate research, internship and/or practicum experience. We understand there is a chance students will not have confirmed their internship before the due date of April 12, 2026.

To apply, students will be asked to provide a 300-500 word description of the proposed summer undergraduate research or internship, identify the experiences that have prepared them to successfully complete the internship/research, how the work will contribute to their professional goals as well as which concentration their proposal best aligns with.

2026 Key Dates

  • February 9, 2026: Application process opens
  • April 12, 2026, at 11:59pm: Application deadline.
  • April 13 – 16, 2026: Applications reviewed by the Hopp Award selection committee
  • April 17, 2026: Hopp Award selection committee meets to discuss and decide on awards
  • April 17, 2026: Applicants receive an email indicating that they have been awarded or not funded.
  • April 23, 2026: Recipients attend the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences Honors Day Ceremony
  • May 15, 2026: Deadline for awardees to
    • Submit a letter from their undergraduate research or internship/practicum supervisor that confirms their placement
    • Enroll for credit
    • Sign up for direct deposit with Student Financial Services

Students should submit their application no later than 11:59PM on April 12, 2026 to:

Richard and Susan Hopp Memorial Award Application Portal

Recipients of the Hopp Award will submit a short progress report midway through their summer undergraduate research or internship experience, and a 300-500 word final report and reflection upon completion of the experience. Recipients will present their experience during the Fall 2026 semester.

Grading criteria is detailed in the below rubric:

Rubric for Hopp Award Applications

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Todd Pritchard at Todd.Pritchard@uvm.edu.