West Virginia Universitys chapter of the honor society of agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta, recently recognized students, faculty, alumni and friends at its annual initiation and awards banquet.
Based in WVU s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, the honorary has welcomed more than 1,800 students, alumni and faculty since the chapters inception in 1959.
The chapter gave awards to outstanding sophomores, juniors, seniors and handed out student service and leadership awards. Several professors also were honored for their work, and two received distinguished service awards.
The following students received the chapters Outstanding Sophomore Awards: Meredith Berry, a resource management major from Cumberland, Md.; Jeremy Hansford, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Falling Waters; Rakesh Patel, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Princeton; and Jonah Womack, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Beckley.
Students who received the Outstanding Junior Awards are: Michael Chiasson, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Morgantown; Anna Phoenix, an interior design major from Cross Lanes; Jillian Rogers, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Alderson; and Kevin Shaffer, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Philippi.
The Outstanding Senior Awards include: Jayme Bosley, an animal and veterinary sciences major from Martinsburg; Gretchen Egbert, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Palestine; Andrew Gentilin, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Charleston; Farid Jalali, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Vienna; and Dustin Smith, a wildlife and fisheries resources major from West Union.
Students receiving Gamma Sigma Deltas Student Service/Leadership Awards are Anna Warner, an agricultural and extension education major from Manchester, Md.; and Tanya Nickerson, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Arcade, N.Y.
Several professors were honored for their work, as well. Gerard DSouza, professor of agricultural and resource economics, was recognized for Distinguished Service to the West Virginia Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta; John Balasko, professor of agronomy, received the Senior Faculty Award of Merit; Mark Sperow, assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics, received the Junior Faculty Award of Merit; H.R. Scott, extension specialist, received the Extension Faculty Award of Merit; and Gloria Nestor, Davis Colleges graphics designer, received the Non-Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences Faculty Award of Merit.
Roger Perdue of Marion County and Layle D. Lawrence of Mount Morris, Pa., received the Distinguished Service to West Virginia Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences Award. Perdue has dedicated the last 38 years to promoting agricultural education on the local, state and national levels. Lawrence, a WVU professor emeritus, devoted his professional career as an educator, researcher and servant to the improvement of agriculture and the people whom it educates, employs and feeds throughout the state. Undergraduate initiates include: Chelsea Marie Becker, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Portersville, Pa.; Amanda Haddix, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Philippi; Laura Schiller, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Chesterfield, Va.; Kevin S. Shaffer, an animal and nutritional sciences major from Philippi; Gordon Tyler Wright, a forest resources management major from Waynesboro, Va.; Amanda Barton Bostic, a resource management major from Morgantown; Amy DeHaven, an agribusiness management and rural development major from Bunker Hill; Anna M. Harris, an agribusiness management and rural development major from West Moreland, N.H.; and Julie A. Roop, an agricultural and extension education major from Thurmont, Md.
Graduate student inductees include: Brian J. Lewis, an animal and nutritional sciences student from Morgantown; Tabatha Marie Littler, an animal and nutritional sciences student from Crescent, Pa.; Adam C. Riley, a forestry and natural resources student from Morgantown; Karen Faye Robinson, a forestry and natural resources student from Morgantown; Abraham Jordan, an agriculture, forestry and consumer sciences student from Lewisburg, W.Va.; Sherie L. Edenborn, a plant and soil sciences student from Finleyville, Pa.; Jordan E. Eggers, a plant and soil sciences student from Morgantown; Tiffany Fess, a plant and soil sciences student from Morgantown; Crystal M. Goldyn, a plant and soil sciences student from Portage, Pa.; Michael Brian Harman, a plant and soil sciences student from Upper Tract, W.Va.; Heather R. Light, a plant and soil sciences student from Kingwood, W.Va.; Sara A. Brown, a resource management student from Morgantown; and Laura Lee Pfeifer, a resource management student from Claysville, Pa.
Faculty member inductees include: Donna Coffindaffer Ballard, a visiting instructor of landscape architecture; Cindy V. Beecham, program coordinator and assistant professor of interior design; Deborah S. Shriver, extension agent in the Marion County Extension Office; and Todd P. West, assistant professor of horticulture.
Since 1917, the Society of Gamma Sigma Delta has been strictly honorary in character, with faculty members of the chapter conducting elections. Seniors, graduate students, alumni and faculty in the Davis Colleges academic fields are eligible for election.
Seniors must be in the upper 15 percent of their class and show promise of future leadership. Graduate students must show outstanding ability. Faculty must have demonstrated exceptional teaching, investigational ability or service for a period of at least three years. Alumni are eligible for election no sooner than five years after graduation by virtue of significant service in any of the aforementioned fields.