April 24, 2008
Awards ceremonies honor Purdue agriculture students and staff
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University agricultural students and staff members were honored for their achievements at both the University Honors Convocation and the College of Agriculture Spring Awards Program on April 13."The awards programs are a time to pause and celebrate the excellence of Purdue agriculture," said Dale Whittaker, associate dean of agriculture and director of academic programs. "When you look at the resumes of these students and staff, you realize that these awards recognize a lifetime of individual choices to be the very best and to support others. This is the college's way to say thank you for a job well done and for contributing to the quality and excellence of Purdue Agriculture."
At the University Honors Convocation, Shauna Stapleton, a senior in entomology from Springfield, Ohio, received the $500 Flora Roberts Award for outstanding graduating woman. Stapleton has been on the dean's list and semester honors list every semester while she has been at Purdue. She is also a varsity soccer player, member of Mortar Board, involved in the Big Sister Program, and part of the Entomology Undergraduate Club.
Christine Wilson, associate professor of agricultural economics, received a 2008 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in Memory of Charles B. Murphy. This is the highest undergraduate teaching honor and the award is accompanied by $10,000 and induction into Purdue's Teaching Academy.
LeeAnn Williams, academic adviser of agricultural economics, received the Purdue Academic Advising Association's Outstanding Advisor Award.
At the College of Agriculture Spring Awards Program, Clint Chapple, professor of biochemistry was honored as the Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher.
Maribeth Cousin, food science professor, was named David C. Pfendler Outstanding Undergraduate Counselor.
Hank Weiner, professor of biochemistry, was named Outstanding Graduate Educator.
Robin Tribbett, director of student services for horticulture and landscape architecture, was honored with the Outstanding Service to Students Award.
Student awards were given to those who have showed excellence in academia and extracurricular activities.
Outstanding senior was awarded to Dustin Potts, a horticulture and landscape architecture major from Newburgh. Some of his activities include Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Agriculture Ambassadors, Horticulture Society, Collegiate 4-H, and Golden Key International Honor Society.
Outstanding junior was awarded to Christina Velasquez, a biochemistry major from Dyer. Velasquez is the president of Raising Awareness of International Medicine and also assists in gene expression regulation research for the biochemistry department.
Outstanding sophomore was awarded to Anne Secor, a food science major from Fort Dodge, Iowa. Secor is a member of the Purdue Triathlon Club, Purdue Horticulture Society and Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity.
Outstanding freshman was awarded to Bradley Showalter, a botany and plant pathology major from Beech Grove. Showalter is a member of Botany Club and plays alto saxophone for the Purdue University "All-American" Marching Band, concert band, and Gold and Black Sound.
Writer: Hannah Brescher, (765) 494-8402, hbresche@purdue.edu
Source: Dale Whittaker, (765) 494-8472, dwhittak@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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