Julie Hedine was a leader and a mentor for aspiring school nutrition professionals. Her leadership style was driven by her deep knowledge of program management and nutrition and executed with integrity, kindness, generosity and grace.

For Julie, fostering aspiring school nutrition professionals was a priority. Throughout her career and as FSNA president, she looked for opportunities for those around her to grow professionally, to learn and to shine. In her Leadership path speech to the FSNA membership, she thanked the people who urged her to take that next step and then from her place of achievement as a director and FSNA President she urged her staff to learn something new or take on a new challenge. She believed that sometimes a gentle nudge or an encouraging word is needed  -- and through this scholarship – her passion to help others continues.