The Monongahela Conservation District honored two West Virginia University faculty members at its recent recognition banquet.

James Thompson, an assistant professor of soil science in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences received the Districts Conservation Educator Award for 2006.

Thompson joined the WVU faculty in 2004 and led the Davis Colleges Soils Team to the collegiate soil judging national championship in 2006. He recently published two textbooks,Fundamentals of Soil ScienceandMath for Soil Scientists,through Thomas Delmar Learning.

Jeff Skousen, professor of environmental protection in the Davis College and land reclamation specialist for WVU Extension, received the Frank Glover Award for demonstrating a long-term commitment to and outstanding public service in the area of soil and water conservation.

Skousen works with organizationscommittees in the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Coal Association, raising awareness on land reclamation issues and organizing educational events.

The award remembers Frank Glover, long-time resident of Morgantown, who was active for more than 40 years in soil and water conservation in West Virginia and was responsible for helping to develop mine reclamation practices.

The Monongahela Conservation District is an arm of the United States Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service. It serves Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties in West Virginia, providing leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve natural resources and the environment.