Purdue News

Gamma Sigma Delta honors 13 Boilermakers

Each year the society honors an alumnus, a faculty member, and students from each of the three schools.

Alumni membership in Gamma Sigma Delta is awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service to agriculture and related disciplines. The 1997 alumni honorees were:

• Dr. Carol A. Ecker, owner/operator of Clayview Animal Clinic, Clayview Farms and Ecker Enterprises, South Bend . In 1964, she became one of the first two women to graduate from the School of Veterinary Medicine. She is serving her third appointed term as a member of the board of trustees, currently serving as chairwoman of the academic affairs committee. Ecker was awarded the Purdue President's Medal in 1994 for outstanding service to the university.
  
• Virginia Murphy Blankenbaker, Indianapolis , who received a bachelor's degree in home economics in 1955. Blankenbaker made her way from the classroom to the statehouse, serving as a state senator from 1980 to 1992. She spearheaded efforts to make child care more affordable and accessible, and she wrote legislation requiring a 10-day waiting period for handgun permits.
  
• Dan J. Arnholt, director, Bartholomew County REMC, Columbus, Ind. , who earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics in 1968. Arnholt has been providing agricultural service, programs and leadership in the energy field since graduating. He has served on the Governor's Task Force for Agriculture and the National Electrification Council.

  Gamma Sigma Delta presented the Award of Merit for contributions in research, teaching, extension, or administration to:
  

• Lawrence A. Horstman, associate professor or theriogenology, for his celebrated teaching of clinical food animal medicine in the School of Veterinary Medicine.
  
• Susan J. Kontos, professor of child development and family studies, for her research on the effects of nonparental relative and family child care on young children.
  
• Paul V. Malven, professor of animal sciences, for service to animal agriculture through research and teaching in the School of Agriculture.

  Gamma Sigma Delta student scholarship winners were:
  

• Michele Lyn Berger, South Bend , who has a perfect grade point average in preveterinary studies. She is considering a career in either private practice or teaching and research.
  
• Laura L. Bonner, Dimondale, Mich. , who has completed 84 credit hours towards an individual and family development major. She is a member of Purdue's Council on Family Relations.
  
• Michelle R. Bowman, Clayton , who has a bachelor's degree in biological science and has completed seven and a half semesters in Purdue's doctor of veterinary medicine program. She plans a career in zoo and wildlife medicine.
  
• Lauren Elizabeth Bush, Volcano, Hawaii, who has maintained a perfect grade point average while majoring in natural resources and environmental sciences. She also is pursuing an international study minor and plans to spend this summer on an internship in Japan.
  
• Chee Pey Chang, Singapore, who has 115 credit hours in restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management with a perfect grade point average. Upon graduation in May, he plans to work with the Singapore Tourism Board.
  
• Sarina Grace Harris, Selma , who has maintained a perfect grade point average through 108 credit hours while double majoring in food process engineering and biochemistry. She has three Academic All Big Ten honors as a varsity volleyball player and is the only non-freshman female volleyball player in the Big Ten with a 4.00 index.
  
• Gina Raver, Batesville , who has completed 116 credit hours in consumer and family sciences with a perfect grade point average. She has been a member of numerous honor societies and has served as president of the Indiana Association of Family and Consumer Sciences student section.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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