Banquet ceremonies honored many of the college’s best and brightest, part of $967,075 in scholarships and awards that will be presented to OSU agriculture students this spring by CASNR and its various academic departments for the 2008-2009 school year.

“Scholarships are vital to the university's ability to carry out our land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach," said OSU President Burns Hargis. “I commend our donors for making a real impact in the lives of our students, and I congratulate our many scholars.”

Wisconsin native Lindsey Kuzma of Lodi, an animal science-agribusiness dual major with minors in finance and leadership, garnered the evening’s highest honor: the 2008 Paul and Mary Hummer Outstanding Senior in CASNR Award.

“CASNR has allowed me to individualize my experience to classes, competitions, clubs and activities that make the most of my abilities and aspirations, while simultaneously forcing me to grow, change and improve as a person,” Kuzma said.

Flanked by her parents, Wendy and Frank, the thrilled and pleasantly surprised Kuzma accepted a Remington bronze statue that is presented annually to CASNR’s outstanding senior.

CASNR's 2008 Top Ten Seniors: (from left, front row) Megan Downing, Whitney Danker, Alicia Davis and Lindsey Kuzma; (from left, back row) Jillianne Zweiacker, Randis Gallaway, Travis Jett, Blake Wilson and Christopher Branch. Matt Dvorak is studying in the Czech Republic and so is not pictured. (Photo by Todd Johnson)

Recipients of the 2008 Dean Fred LeCrone Senior Leadership Awards were Whitney Danker of Wellston, an agricultural communications major; Travis Jett of Laverne, an agribusiness major; Kuzma; Blake Wilson of Okemah, an animal science major; and Jillianne Zweiacker of Pawnee, an agricultural communications major.

“Initially, I thought college was four years for me,” said Jett, the outgoing president of OSU Ag Student Council. “But the greatest memories and most significant impact happened when I made it about everyone else.”

The 2008 CASNR Top Ten Seniors were Christopher Branch of Comanche, an agricultural economics major; Alicia Davis of Bixby, an animal science major; Megan Downing of Locust Grove, an animal science major; Matthew Dvorak of Perry, an agricultural economics major; Randis Gallaway of Marlow, an agricultural economics major; and Danker, Jett, Kuzma, Wilson and Zweiacker.

“I came to college thinking I was leaving home, but soon realized I was just expanding it,” Zweiacker said. “Nothing will replace the people I have met or the opportunities I have had during my collegiate career.”

Dvorak feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in two CASNR Study Abroad trips, the first to England, France and Scotland in 2005 and the second to China and Tibet in 2007.

“The two trips have helped shape my collegiate pursuits and career interests, and gave me the confidence to study abroad for an entire semester,” he said of his current international experience, studying at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic.

Jared Crain of Woodward, a plant and soil sciences major, was the 2008 recipient of the Charles and Magda Browning Outstanding Freshman Award.

The OSU chapter of Alpha Zeta, the honorary agricultural fraternity, was named 2008 Outstanding Club in CASNR. Agricultural economics professor Kim Anderson was honored as the 2008 Alpha Zeta Outstanding Teacher in CASNR during the banquet ceremonies.

Patricia Ayoubi, an assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, received the OSU Ag Ambassadors Outstanding Advisor Award for 2008. OSU Ag Ambassadors also honored Gerry Smith of the department of entomology and plant pathology with its 2008 Outstanding Professional Staff Award.

In all, several hundred students were honored during the college’s scholarship and awards banquet, with many more to be recognized at individual academic department banquets throughout the spring.

The OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources places a great emphasis on celebrating the accomplishments of students, said Ed Miller, DASNR associate dean of academic programs.

“Awards for leadership and academic performance and the presentation of scholarships build pride in our students and their families, the faculty, donors and other supporters of the college and the division as a whole,” he said.

DASNR is comprised of the college and two statewide agencies: the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

“The exceptional amount of scholarship support we are able to award students to further their education would not be possible without the generosity of our many donors, who recognize the value of the division’s teaching, research and Extension programs,” Miller said.

The college provides 16 majors and more than 40 study options to students interested in pursuing a career in science, business, education, engineering, technology development, natural resources or communications. Prospective students can uncover and explore opportunities through CASNR at http://www.casnr.com on the Internet.

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REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
News and Media Relations Manager
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating.  Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.