The Department of Plant and Soil Science would like to recognize the following students for being the 2005-2006 Scholarship Recipients for the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association. Kara Howard, Amanda Delgado, Pam Smith, Kristin Phillips and Laura Frey.

CASNR STAFF AWARD

The CASNR Staff Award must be a full-time staff member within the college. To be selected as the recipient for this award an individual must have shown an “extraordinary work proficiency and an attitude of team spirit within the Texas Tech family”. This means that the individual must have demonstrated a customer-oriented focus in accomplishing their duties and been willing to go the extra mile. We had a number of nominees this year—Ms. Cindy Dickson (AAEC), Ms. Mary Lou Flom (AE&C), Mr. Roby Carlson (PSS), Ms. Danna Murfee (RWFM), Ms. Donna Weaver (Dean’s office), Ms. Ramona Johnson (Dean’s office), and Ms. Lybby Brown (Dean’s office).

The recipient of the 2005 CASNR Staff Award is Ms. Ramona Johnson. Ramona Johnson currently serves as our College as Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs and in this capacity works with faculty, staff, and students on matters relating to curriculum development, degree plan audits, graduation activities, and many others. Ramona defines the terms “team spirit” and “team player”. She continually puts others first. In addition, “Going the extra mile” falls far short of describing Ramona’s contributions to our College. She is continually sought after for her advice by faculty, other staff, and students. What separates Ramona from many others is her attitude and her level of motivation to serve our students. She is very people oriented—to the point that she welcomes phone calls and “drop in” traffic all day long. Where most people would become very frustrated with this situation, she just simple becomes more satisfied. They have just “made her day” if she can help just one student over a bump during the day. In summary, some words that describe Ramona include—“trustworthy”, “loyal”, “helpful”, “friendly”, “courteous”.

CASNR INSTRUCTOR AWARD

The CASNR Instructor Award must be a departmental instructor and have shown “support of the teaching and support missions of the college. These include classroom/laboratory preparation and teaching, student counseling, organization advising, competitive team coaching, and student tutoring”. This award will typically only be presented once every four years. We had three nominees this year for the award and they were Mr. Marty Middleton (AAEC), Mr. Kris Wilson (AFS), and Ms. Barbara Rudd (PSS).

Ms. Barbara Rudd is the recipient of the 2005 CASNR Instructor Award. Ms. Rudd has served on the faculty of the Plant and Soil Science Department since 1996. She has developed a special section of PSS 2401- Introductory Entomology—for education majors who will teach science to kindergarten through the sixth grade students. In this class, she teaches new teachers how to instruct young students on the basic principles of biology using insects as a model. This has allowed thousands of young people to gain an appreciation of the importance of insects and agriculture in our daily lives. This class generates over one hundred teachers each year that will help promote and recruit for our programs. Rudd also teaches an undergraduate/graduate course in plant pathology. This course generates excellent student evaluations also, and excites the imagination of our students. She has had over 10 of her students go on to pursue graduate degrees in Plant Pathology based on her past inspirational teaching. The unique skills and hard work of Rudd have helped her contribute to the strong tradition of teaching excellence in both the Plant and Soil Science Department and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She has also been very generous with her time and talents outside of the classroom. She has assisted with the state FFA Career Development Event in entomology for a number of years in addition to making several presentations to public school classes, garden clubs, and other organizations.

CASNR STUDENT ADVISING AWARD

The CASNR Student Advising Award recipient must have shown a “strong commitment to student advising—academic counseling, career advising, and professional conduct (ethics, leadership, commitment, etc.)”. This award will be presented for undergraduate advisement during FY odd years and for graduate advising during FY even years. This year’s award will be for undergraduate advising. Nominees this year included Dr. Emmett Elam (AAEC), Dr. Chad Davis (AE&C), Dr. Sam Jackson (AFS), Dr. Cary Green (PSS), and Dr. Mark Wallace (RWFM).

The recipient of the 2005 Student Advising Award was Dr. Emmett Elam. Dr. Elam arrived at Texas Tech University in 1987 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Dr. Elam has served as the Undergraduate Advisor for the department since 1999. In this position he oversees undergraduate advising and serves as a personal advisor to 65 students in the department and is the liaison with the College of Business Administration for the Agribusiness degree program and for the minor in General Business. He has provided leadership in recruiting, developing a new Agribusiness Management Minor in the department, and in advocating minors in other CASNR departments for AAEC students. He chairs the departmental Undergraduate Program Committee, serves on the CASNR Curriculum Committee, and coordinates with junior college and high school counselors and advisors. Dr. Elam has worked with various university programs—including the popular “Shake Hands with Your Future”—a program for gifted students. Elam is also known for being a gifted teacher. His teaching evaluations consistently rank high in the department and college. In addition, he has been recognized by our Ag Council as “Teacher of the Semester” and the undergraduate Agricultural Economics Association has awarded him their Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. Dr. Elam is widely recognized and respected by students and colleagues for his commitment to students and quality education.

CASNR SERVICE/OUTREACH AWARD

The CASNR Service/Outreach Award is presented to a nominee whose CV shows “service/outreach in some of the following areas: Community service, professional organizations, service boards, 4-H, FFA, service to student organizations and activities, service to colleagues, etc.” Our nominees for this award this year were Dr. Eduardo Segarra (AAEC), Dr. Cindy Akers (AE&C), Dr. Heidi Brady (AFS), Dr. Peter Dotray (PSS), and Dr. David Wester (RWFM).

The recipient of the 2005 CASNR Service/Outreach Award was Dr. Eduardo Segarra. Dr. Segarra joined our CASNR faculty in 1987 as an Assistant Professor. He currently holds the rank of Professor and Department Chair for Agricultural and Applied Economics and also has a split appointment with Texas Tech University and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station with Texas A&M University. Dr. Segarra is a leader who believes in service to the University, the public, and his profession and has made notable contributions to all. As a member of the University Community he has served on a number of committees – being sought after by his colleagues and administrators. His service in these capacities extends through departmental, college and university levels. These have included search committees for top-level administrators, the Athletic Council, and the President’s Advisory Council. He has likewise served on many committees in the Texas A&M University system. In the professional service arena, he has been active in regional, national, and international associations – having served on boards and committees at all levels which has brought recognition to Texas Tech. Dr. Segarra has been presented many awards – including; 1) the Texas Tech’s Ex-Students Association Outstanding New Faculty Award; 2) the USDA’s National Superior Service Team Award for Scientific Research; 3) President’s Academic Achievement Award; 4) CASNR Outstanding Researcher; 5) Induction into the Teaching Academy; 6) Award for Leadership and Service to the American Agri. Eco. Association Foundation, and many others.

CASNR OUTSTANDING JR. FACULTY AWARD

The CASNR Outstanding Jr. Faculty Award “will be presented to a faculty who has been in a tenure track position at Texas Tech University for a minimum of four years, a maximum of seven years, and has not been promoted to Associate Professor. The award will be for excellence in innovative teaching activities, initiation of research/creative activities, and interaction with students”. The nominees for this year were Dr. James Smith (AE&C) and Dr. Thayne Montague (PSS).

The recipient of the 2005 CASNR Outstanding Jr. Faculty Award was Dr. James Smith. Dr. Smith joined the faculty at Texas Tech University in 2000 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Smith has excelled in his instructional program throughout his career. Despite carrying a heavy teaching load, his student evaluations are in the “Excellent” category. Dr. Smith is sought after as an advisor. He is also active in the department’s graduate program, including teaching a distance course to students at TTU, North Carolina State, Mississippi State, and Utah State, as well as his involvement in the Doc @ Distance program. His teaching performance truly represents the scholarship of teaching where he has incorporated leading-edge knowledge in his discipline. His service activities include: 1) working with the Texas New Beginning Teacher Program, 2) the development of a nationally publicized website to assist beginning teachers and he presents an outstanding program to beginning teachers in Texas at their annual professional development meeting. Here at TTU, Dr. Smith serves on the Distance Learning Committee and the Ag. and Natural Resources Awareness Committee. He has also served as President of Tech’s Gamma Sigma Delta chapter. Dr. Smith also has a successful research program. Since his arrival at Texas Tech, he has written or co-written 14 proposals that have been funded for almost $600,000. In addition, he has 23 refereed publications and proceedings, 9 refereed posters, and numerous reports and presentations to his credit.

CASNR RESEARCH AWARD

The CASNR Research Award is “to recognize outstanding research, scholarship, and creative activity of faculty members in the developmental stages of their careers”. The nominees must, at the time of their nomination, have been in a tenured or tenure-track position at TTU for no more than eight years and held the terminal degree for no more than 10 years. Our nominees this year were Dr. Mindy Brashears (AFS), Dr. Robert Wright (PSS), and Dr. Clint Boal (RWFM).

The recipient of the 2005 CASNR Research Award is Dr. Mindy Brashears. Dr. Brashears joined the faculty in Animal and Food Sciences in 2001. Since that time she has moved to the rank of Associate Professor and now serves as the Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence. Her research focuses on both pre- and post- harvest food safety issues with an emphasis on solving applied food industry problems. She also conducts research on the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistance in feedlot cattle as well as many other areas. Mindy has been very successful in the area of grant writing. Since joining the faculty here in 2001, she has received over $6 million in research funding to support her programs. Brashears is also a prolific writer– with four book chapters, 26 peer-reviewed publications, and several others in-review– to her credit. In addition, she has 3 patent applications being processed. Dr. Brashears has received several notable recognitions including: 1) being named as one of the top 30 scientists in the world to participate in a scientific panel sponsored by the American Academy of Microbiology; 2) being asked to serve as a member of the USDA National Research Initiative Food Safety Panel in 2001 and 2002; 3) and she serves on numerous professional boards and committees.

CASNR TEACHING AWARD

The “CASNR Teaching Award” is designed to recognize members of the Texas Tech University and College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources faculty “for teaching excellence as evidenced by their attainment of distinction both within and beyond the institution for outstanding teaching and outstanding contributions related to excellence in teaching”. Nominees must have been a faculty member for at least 3 years. Our nominees this year were Dr. Steve Fraze (AE&C), Dr. Mark Miller (AFS), Dr. Ellen Peffley (PSS), and Dr. Carlton Britton (RWFM).

Dr. Ellen Peffley was selected as the recipient of the 2005 CASNR Teaching Award. Dr. Peffley joined the faculty in the Department of Plant and Soil Science as a Visiting Assistant Professor in 1984. Since that time she has moved through the ranks to full professor. Along the way she has established an outstanding teaching record that has spanned 20 years to date and she is still going strong. She was an outstanding teacher using traditional methods but was quick to incorporate multimedia technology into her Horticulture courses. In fact, she has been part of a pioneering team in the development of distance learning courses here at Texas Tech University. As a result, she has introduced hundreds of students, both on-campus and off-campus, to the discipline of Horticulture while receiving class evaluations well above the departmental and college averages. Her accomplishments have not gone unrecognized. Texas Tech has recognized her with several awards including: 1) President’s Excellence in Teaching Award; 2) Inducted as a Charter Member of the Teaching Academy; and 3) The Spencer A. Wells Faculty Award for Creativity in Teaching. Other awards include the NACTA Teaching Award of Merit, the L.C. Chadwick Educator’s Award presented by the American Nursery and Landscape Association, and the L.M. Ware Distinguished Teacher Award presented by the Southern Region of the American Society for Horticulture Science.