Mary Logan Scholarship

In 1999, AFDOSS established the Mary Logan Scholarship in honor of one of our great members who served as Secretary/Treasurer for our regional affiliate for 30 years. Mrs. Logan, who is now retired, worked 39 years with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

This scholarship in the amount of $6,000 is designed to be awarded to top students who have demonstrated a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teach in an area related to some aspect of foods, drugs or consumer product safety. Student candidates should have demonstrated leadership capabilities and must have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

The annual recipient of the Mary Logan Scholarship is generally announced during the AFDOSS Business Luncheon held as part of the Annual Education Conference. 

The criteria for this award reflects the love and dedication that Mary Logan has for AFDOSS and for every person that belongs to AFDOSS, or supports its goals and objectives. This award stands not only as a tribute to Mary Logan, but as a reminder that AFDOSS must always support and encourage the training and development of people. It is a symbol that the role of AFDOSS will not only live on, but that its role will expand and grow.

Criteria for Selection of Award Recipient

The following criteria will be used by the selection committee to select the award recipient. The applicant must:

1. Have already completed their first three years of undergraduate studies.
2. Have at least a 3.0 GPA.
3. Be enrolled in a college or university located within an AFDOSS State (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or the territory of Puerto Rico) to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in the term following award.
4. Have demonstrated a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to foods, drugs, or consumer product safety.
5. Have demonstrated leadership capabilities.
6. Complete the Scholarship Application Form, including the submission of two (2) letters of recommendation and a copy of their most recent college transcript(s), on or before the due date set by the AFDOSS Board.

To help rank the applicants, points up to a total 100 score will be given in the following areas:

• Academic achievements and leadership capabilities (25 points)
• Financial need (25 points)
• Extracurricular activities, community service work, and professional experience (25 points)
• Narrative justification (25 points)

Applying for the Mary Logan Scholarship

The Mary Logan Scholarship Application window closed on June 14th, 2026. The winner was announced at the 2026 Annual Educational Conference (AEC). The winner received a one year membership to AFDO and AFDOSS, along with complimentary registration to attend the 2026 AFDOSS AEC.

Meet Pratiksha Shrestha, our 2026 Mary Logan Scholarship Awardee!

AFDOSS is pleased to present the 2026 Mary Logan Scholarship award to Pratiksha Shrestha.

Pratiksha Shrestha earned her Master of Science in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology and is continuing her education at LSU in pursuit of a PhD in Food Technology. She displays her commitment to public health serving on the Executive Committee of the LSU Food Science Club, including winning the Tiger Excellence Award from Louisiana State University, one of the university's most prestigious organizational honors. Pratiksha has received numerous accolades and scholastic awards, and has eleven published papers to her credit, which have been cited 223 times.

“My most defining leadership experience came during my three years as a Food Research Officer at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control in Nepal. Nepal is a country rapidly working to strengthen its food safety systems, improve domestic food quality, and expand its global trade presence. However, the country faces serious challenges including widespread food adulteration, low public awareness about food safety, and the need to build capacity in foreign supplier verification at customs for imported foods. Working within this context, I led a wide range of programs that had direct national impact. I organized and led education and interaction programs for small and medium scale food industries, translating complex national and international food laws and regulations into practical guidance that businesses could actually apply. This covered everything from labeling requirements to operational standards and import and export rules. I advocated for food safety policies and led market inspection programs that helped the government gather critical information to build stronger, evidence-based food safety policy. I also supervised sample receiving and testing workflows at the National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory, ensuring compliance with ISO 17025 accreditation standards. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of how policy, regulation, and public education must work together to protect people, and shaped me into a food safety professional who did not just study the field but advocated for it and worked to make it real for the communities and industries that needed it most.

Now, through my doctoral training at LSU, I am deliberately building on that foundation. I am equipping myself with advanced research skills, regulatory knowledge, and scientific tools so that I can serve the United States and the global food safety community the same way I served Nepal, by turning science into action that protects people. When I arrived in 2024, my advisor Dr. Karuna Kharel had also recently joined the university, and together we faced the challenge of building a Food Microbiology and Safety Lab entirely from scratch. I took on full responsibility for setting up the lab, compiling manuals, procedures, and protocols, and coordinating with building coordinators, inspection bodies, lab members, and research fellows from other labs. After six months of sustained effort, the lab successfully achieved Biosafety Level 2 certification. In recognition of my contributions, I was appointed Lab Manager, a role I continue to hold today. As a Teaching Assistant for the Food Microbiology Lab course, I mentor undergraduate students in laboratory techniques, experimental design, data analysis, and grant applications, actively shaping the next generation of food safety researchers”.

Get Involved

AFDOSS is built on participation and collaboration. Whether you are new to the field or have years of experience, membership provides a way to connect with peers, stay informed, and help support the future of food and drug regulation in the southern states.

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