Carrie (Ream) Woodruff
Fall 2019
2019 Professional Achievement Award
Bluffton 鈥85, MAOM 鈥02
Finding the right path in life
Carrie Woodruff discovered her calling at a women in science conference during her
junior year of high school. There, the Ada, Ohio, native discovered the up-and-coming
field of nutrition. She also learned one of the best places to study nutrition was
just minutes from home at Bluffton.
鈥淚 called my mom [Mary Martha (Best 鈥59) Kellogg] from the conference and said, 鈥楪uess what? Bluffton has a nutrition program, and I think that鈥檚 what I want to do,鈥欌 said Woodruff.
Now, after a long and continuing career in the field, Woodruff is being recognized as the recipient of the 2019 Professional Achievement Award. The award distinguishes a graduate who has continued the pursuit of intellection growth and has explored creative avenues in his or her chosen field.
鈥淚 love what I do. I love the fact that I can provide students with nutritious menus, and I can help guide their future,鈥 said Woodruff. 鈥淣utrition is so important and instilling those ideas at an early age for kids is so important. I truly believe in this work.鈥
For the past 20 years, Woodruff has served as the food service director of the Lima City Schools. During that time, she has balanced the budget, overseen the implementation of free breakfast and lunch programs, earned multiple USDA grants for fresh fruits and vegetables in the schools, and testified about school nutrition in Washington, D.C.
Fueling the future
While Woodruff鈥檚 position is mainly administrative, and she doesn鈥檛 directly work
with children, she has witnessed the impact of improved nutrition.
For example, when Woodruff began, the district鈥檚 breakfast program reached about 19 percent of students. With the support of administration, Woodruff led an initiative to provide free breakfast served directly to students in the classroom. Now, about 85 percent of the district鈥檚 students eat breakfast at school each morning.
鈥淎fter these kids started to get a good breakfast, we saw a 40 percent drop in nurse visits almost immediately,鈥 said Woodruff.
Another instrumental project was rebranding the district鈥檚 nine school cafeterias into 鈥淪partan Caf茅s.鈥
鈥淭he kids get excited for lunch, and they have more Spartan pride and school spirit,鈥 said Woodruff. 鈥淲e created unity within the nine buildings.鈥
Each caf茅 features the district鈥檚 mascot and school colors, as well as a unique saying that explores the importance of healthy eating. Sayings range from Lima Senior鈥檚 鈥淔eeding the Students: Past, Present and Future鈥 to South Science and Technology Magnet鈥檚 鈥淕earing up to fuel the future.鈥
While Woodruff is committed to helping young learners, she鈥檚 also dedicated to advancing the profession. She has mentored more than 50 post-baccalaureate dietetic interns, including many from Bluffton.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for these students to see what working in a school is like. It鈥檚 not something you immediately think about doing when going into dietetics, but it鈥檚 a good mix of dietetics with business,鈥 said Woodruff, who strengthened her business skills through Bluffton鈥檚 Master of Arts in Organizational Management program.
A place of honesty and integrity
At Bluffton, Woodruff was totally committed to her studies and graduated with her
bachelor鈥檚 degree in three years. She cites Barb Stettler, associate professor emeritus
of family and consumer sciences, as a key mentor.
鈥淭here is none better than her. She was hard, she had high expectations, but she really did push me to be the best I could be,鈥 said Woodruff.
Woodruff fondly remembers Bluffton as a place of honesty and integrity, especially through the use of the Honor Code.
鈥淚 remember taking our tests and signing them at the end. That act definitely makes you aware of right and wrong,鈥 said Woodruff. 鈥淏eing in that Christian environment made an impact on my life.鈥
Prior to her current position, Woodruff refined her skills at Lima Memorial Hospital and with Aramark at the Lima Ford Engine Plant. Presenting food demonstrations for 4-H also gave her early experience in teaching others about nutrition.
Now, she calls herself blessed to be where she is at in life.
鈥淚 do believe in God, and I believe I鈥檝e been purposely placed here,鈥 said Woodruff. 鈥淎nd, I wouldn鈥檛 be where I鈥檓 at without the support of my family.鈥