Purdue News

April 24, 2002 Purdue honors outstanding agriculture students WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A senior in the School of Agriculture was awarded the highest honor Purdue bestows on a graduating male student. Eric J. Steiner of Berne, Ind. received the G.A. Ross Award for outstanding graduating man at the Honors Convocation April 12. Steiner is a senior majoring in agricultural education. While on campus, he served as president of Mortar Board, was an Ag Ambassador, and was a member of the President's Round Table. He studied abroad in Honduras, Poland, and South Africa. The School of Agriculture named its outstanding students in each class for the 2001-2002 school year. Anna Day, Noblesville, Ind., was named outstanding senior at the annual Senior Chili Supper April 23. Day will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in animal science. Day is the Purdue Board of Trustees student representative. She was an Ag Ambassador and member of Mortar Board and the President's Round Table. The outstanding senior receives the Senior Medal, an award sponsored by the Ag Alumni Association, and has their name engraved on a plaque in the Agricultural Administration Building. Two runners-up for outstanding senior also were recognized: Steiner and Jessica Stewart of West Lafayette, Ind., a biochemistry major. "They are a fantastically talented group," said Karl Brandt, associate dean and director of academic programs at Purdue's School of Agriculture. "It's always a difficult selection for the faculty committees who review the applications." Three underclassmen were named outstanding representatives of their classes at a banquet on April 7. Kathleen Barzan of Crown Point, Ind. was recognized as the outstanding freshman. Barzan is a pre-veterinary medicine major. Dana Marcellino, an agricultural economics major from Camden, Ind., was named outstanding sophomore. The title of outstanding junior was awarded to Robert Johnson of Auburn, Ind. Johnson is an animal science major. The outstanding freshman, sophomore and junior are presented certificates and have their names engraved on a plaque in the Agricultural Administration Building. Candidates for the outstanding student awards are nominated by the program of study coordinator in each academic department and interdisciplinary program. Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement and leadership record by a selection committee of three faculty members. CONTACT: Karl Brandt, (765) 494-8472, kgb@agad.purdue.edu Compiled by Mindy Reef, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/ Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page