West Virginia Universitys Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences has named its outstanding seniors for the 2004-05 academic year. They are: Natalie R. Bumgarner, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences; Neil Bumgarner, Division of Resource Management; Jillian Joseph, Division of Family and Consumer Sciences; Katherine Lott, Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences; and Matthew P. Perkowski, Division of Forestry.
Natalie Bumgarner , a horticulture major from Elizabeth, W.Va., has earned some of the highest honors available to WVU students. She is one of 30 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors and one of eight 2005 inductees into the Order of Augusta. During her time at WVU , she has earned a number of scholarships and been active in a number of student organizations, such as Block and Bridle and the Plant and Soil Sciences Club. As a worker in the Universitys greenhouse, she has been responsible for everything from flower production to poinsettia sales. She also interned with the City of Morgantown grounds department and a large greenhouse in Pennsylvania. Since high school, she has been involved with 4-H as either a member or leader. In college, she remained active in Wirt County 4-H as a summer camp counselor, teaching classes, leading sporting events and chaperoning campers at various activities. Bumgarner has contributed to her community in countless other ways. She has been a team leader for Relay for Life, a Bible school teacher at South Parkersburg Baptist Church and a volunteer with AmeriCorps.
Neil Bumgarner , an agribusiness management and rural development major from Elizabeth, has matched his sister in honors and accomplishments. He also was named a Foundation Outstanding Senior and admitted to the Order of Augusta. As a lab assistant in the Division of Animal and Veterinary Science, Bumgarner conducted chemical analysis in the animal nutrition laboratory. He was in charge of an individual research project that he recently presented during Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. During his college career, Bumgarner has successfully juggled extracurricular activities and excellent grades. He was elected president of Block and Bridle twice and was instrumental in increasing student membership of this national agricultural organization. Bumgarner is also a member of the Davis College Student Council and serves as a student ambassador for the college. He participated on the WVU Academic Quadrathalon team and WVU Dairy Judging Team, and he is a member of a local community design team. In addition, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and Christian Help Inc. as well as served as a 4-H camp counselor and Bible school teacher. An honors student, Bumgarner is the recipient of the WVU Presidential Scholarship and numerous other awards. His goal is to become a successful business professional in the agriculture industry.
Jillian Joseph , a textiles, apparel, and merchandising major from Charlottesville, Va., has applied her talents both in the classroom and out. She is head designer of a line of accessories marketed through Tanners Alley Leather Design Studio in Morgantown and is an independent jewelry designer. Her artistic abilities were recognized by the West Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The association awarded her first place in its Fine Arts Juried Design Competition and second place in its Apparel Juried Design Competition. She has been active in WVU s Fashion Business Association and served as a judge in West Virginias Make It with Wool Contest.
Katherine Lott , an animal and veterinary sciences major from Bridgeport, has enjoyed a range of accomplishments during her time as an undergraduate. One of the most memorable was preparing a full skeleton of a pig. Lott spent several weekends and evenings on the project that will be used as a teaching aid for anatomy students. Along with this project, she dove headfirst into laboratory research in genetics that served as the basis for her senior thesis. This research took many hours to complete and centered on DNA isolation, among other things. Lott is a Davis-Michael Scholar, recipient of a 2004 Mountaineer Scholarship and member of the Golden Key and Mortar Board Senior honoraries. She has been a teaching assistant, Block and Bridle club historian, Habitat for Humanity member and a volunteer at an animal clinic in Fairmont, assisting in surgery and recovery.
Matthew Perkowski , a forest resources management major from Bowie, Md, was noted by faculty for his academic rigor and active involvement in the Division of Forestrys many opportunities. He was chair of the Divisions Society of American Foresters Student Chapter, the major professional society for forestry in the United States. He was also associate forester of Xi Sigma Pi, the Divisions forestry honorary society. He has earned membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society for Agriculture. He has also applied his classroom knowledge in the field, working as a research aide in the University Forest.