October 17, 2007

Purdue Extension names Crooks award recipient

Ehlers, whose area of expertise is consumer and family science - foods and nutrition, has focused on positively impacting the lives of families by reaching out to minority populations and promoting healthy living to slow the obesity epidemic and to reduce chronic diseases.

One of her areas of focus is a program with the Tri-State Diversity Conference that seeks to include audiences left out of traditional Extension programming.

"Peggy has really been a leader in so many areas for Purdue Extension in southern Indiana," said Natalie Fowler, regional Purdue Extension director. "It was her vision to bring the Tri-State Conference to a reality four years ago, and now it has developed into a major multistate, multiprogram approach to diversity."

In addition to her work with minority populations, Ehlers has worked to alleviate the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States. The annual cost of obesity in the nation is $117 billion, which is why her programs seek to promote healthy eating habits in order to curb the growing number of individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

"Peggy has been at the forefront of wellness and obesity awareness programs," Fowler said. "There have been a number of institutional changes as a result of her efforts, and the projects are ongoing."

Ehlers is a member of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Indiana Extension Educators Association and Epsilon Sigma Phi, an Extension organization. She also is president of the Indiana State Association of Consumer and Family Science Educators, and she has received multiple awards for excellence in service.

The Paul B. Crooks Award is given annually and includes a $2,500 cash endowment given to a Purdue Extension educator with 10 or more years of experience.

The award honors educators who have shown great impact in their areas of assignment, excellence in teamwork and collaboration and exceptional Extension programming.

The award's namesake, Paul B. Crooks, served as Extension educator in Benton, Fountain and Morgan counties. He was also associate director of Purdue Extension from 1962-82. The award was first given in 1985.

Writer: Jennifer Stewart Cummins, (765) 494-6682, cumminsjs@purdue.edu

Source: Natalie Fowler, (812) 926-9133, nfowler@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Photos of the award winners will be available on the Web at https://www.ces.purdue.edu/awards/ at 10 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 18).

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