Darius Bennett ’17

The late Dorothy “Dot” Elliott Sink, from Shelby, North Carolina, attended Woman’s College from 1948 to 1951, earning a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She participated in the 4-H club, where she met Betty Feezor, then North Carolina’s own homemaking television star. With Feezor’s guidance, Dot landed her first professional position as an assistant home agent in Guilford County.

Sink maintained her connection to UNCG, serving as the president of her alumni association and even returning to campus for a nutrition lab taste-testing. In 2011, she established the Dot Elliot Sink Scholarship for students majoring in nutrition.

When Darius Bennett ’17 came to UNCG as a freshman, he didn’t know what he wanted to study. But he had volunteer experience working with children, and his interest landed on helping them build positive attitudes toward food and healthy lifestyles.

“I believe nutrition is the key to living a happier, healthier life,” he says.

UNCG provided him with opportunities to engage in his newfound interest − from Nutrition Club to study abroad programs. A Dot Elliott Sink Scholarship recipient, Darius had not only found his calling, but also the experiences that would help him fulfill it.

Through his UNCG classes Bennett prepared himself to become a nutrition counselor, finding, as he says, “my niche to help people in this world.”

He traveled to Alaska to participate in a nutrition education program and volunteered with the Spartan Open Pantry and Minerva’s Garden, both UNCG food assistance programs.

Bennett will soon attend a master’s program to become a registered dietitian, focusing on nutrition therapy. His dream is to become a clinical nutrition manager at a children’s hospital.

While much has changed about agriculture and food preparation since Dot Sink studied at WC, nutrition and children’s health have continued to be important fields of study at UNCG. Thanks to scholarships such as the Dot Elliott Sink Scholarship, graduates like Bennett will go far in making a difference in the world.

Story by Susan Kirby-Smith, Donor Relations