ANSC Annual Graduate Student Awards Luncheon
Thursday, May 26, 2005
PRESENTATION OF THE W.R. FEATHERSTON AWARDS
The W.R. Featherston Awards were established to recognize the outstanding
achievements of graduate students in the Department of Animal Sciences. These
awards were established in honor of the leadership and dedication to graduate
students exhibited by Professor W.R. Featherston. Professor Featherston was
on the staff from July 1962 to June 3, 1980, the date of his untimely death.
Professor Featherston's teaching and research activities were a source of
guidance, encouragement and inspiration to the graduate students.
Awards Selection Committee: Paul Collodi, Zoltan Machaty, Bill Muir, Ed
Pajor and John Patterson.
W.R. FEATHERSTON OFF-CAMPUS TRAINING FELLOWSHIP
The Featherston Off-campus Training Fellowship was established in memory of
Professor W.R. Featherston to annually provide financial support for an M.S.
or Ph.D. degree student in the Department of Animal Sciences to attend a formal
career development training program, organized workshop, or course off campus.
The recipient will be given a check for reimbursement of the expenses, certificate
of award, individual plaque and her/his name will be added to the permanent
plaque maintained within the department. This year's recipient is: Anthony
J. Giannini.
Anthony J. Giannini (up to $1500 in reimbursements). Anthony is
currently pursuing his PhD degree in Animal Sciences under the direction of
Dr. Bill Muir. He joined the ANSC Graduate Program at Purdue in the Fall
2003. Anthony received his B.S. from Upper Iowa University in May 2003.
Anthony will be attending a workshop organized by Brad Till at his TILLING
lab in Seattle, Washington. The material presented in this workshop is not
taught in an organized class here at Purdue. The goal of this workshop is to
provide hands on training of TILLING and its uses. Participants will learn a
novel approach to screening for natural and ENU induced point mutations in an
organism's genome.
Anthony plans to stay within transgenic community upon graduation from
Purdue University. His current focus is on the genetic modification of
tilapia and zebrafish. TILLING, following ENU mutagenesis, will become an
in-depth approach to producing and screening for fish with knockout or
knockdown mutations here in Dr. Muir's lab. With this workshop Anthony will
further his knowledge and abilities in this type of research in the remaining
years of his graduate career.
Anthony will bring back the most up to date knowledge of this area and
advance the techniques currently used and be able to train others in the
TILLING and ENU mutagenesis.
Congratulations Anthony
W.R. FEATHERSTON EARLY GRADUATE CAREER AWARD
The Featherston Early Graduate Career Award was established in memory of Professor
W.R. Featherston to annually recognize the outstanding M.S. or Ph.D. student
within his/her first two years of graduate study. The award consists of $650,
plus a certificate of award, individual plaque and her/his name will be added
to the permanent plaque maintained within the department. This year's recipient
is Kari Saddoris.
Kari joined Dr. Radcliffe's laboratory after completing a Master of
Science degree with Dr. Crenshaw at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in
the fall of 2003. Kari's academic record stands for itself, with a strong
record of achievement at the University of Illinois, the University of
Wisconsin and now at Purdue University. She is very motivated and has a
strong work ethic, allowing her to excel in her PhD program.
Ms. Saddoris has successfully mastered numerous techniques and has
developed the necessary skills to complete an outstanding research project
for her PhD.
Dr. Radcliffe indicates, "... Kari is the type of PhD student who we need
to recruit more of. She has an extremely strong academic background,
possesses a plethora of laboratory skills, and has enough applied knowledge
and practical experience to be able to relate molecular and cellular events
back to the whole animal..."
Congratulations Kari.
W.R. FEATHERSTON OUTSTANDING GRADUATE TEACHING AWARD
The Featherston Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award was established in memory
of Professor W.R. Featherston to annually recognize the outstanding teaching
by an M.S. or Ph.D. student within the department. The award consists of $850,
plus a Certificate of Award, an Individual plaque and their name will be added
to a permanent plaque maintained within the department. This year's recipient
is Tracy Copenhafer.
Tracy is pursuing a M.S. under the direction of Dr. David Gerrard. Tracy
joined our graduate program in the fall or 2003. She received her B.S. from
Michigan State University. Tracy received nominations for the Graduate
Teaching Award for her accomplishments as a teaching assistant for Animal
Sciences, 301, Animal Growth and Development, 351, Meat Science (lead
instructor – Dave Gerrard); but also for relentless efforts to serve this
department in the form of 'non-classroom' instruction and outreach.
Nominators comments include, "... Tracy Copenhafer has provided many
students with invaluable information in the areas of Animal Sciences. She is
a well-prepared, thorough and conscientious teacher that values human
interaction and the process of learning..."
"... Tracy approaches teaching as a central mission at Purdue. She has
developed very effective teaching skills and has used these skills to
contribute greatly to the teaching needs of our department..."
"... Tracy is a bright, energetic individual with an excellent work ethic.
She is a quiet individual that leads by example and has wonderful people
skills."
As the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recipient, Tracy was recognized
at the University's Celebration of Graduate Student Teaching Banquet last
month.
Congratulations Tracy
W.R. FEATHERSTON OUTSTANDING Ph.D. AWARD
The Featherston Outstanding Ph.D. Award was established in memory of Professor
W.R. Featherston to annually recognize the outstanding Ph.D. student within
the department. This award is considered an extremely high honor in the Graduate
Program and serves to reward excellence. The award consists of $1000, Certificate
of Award, an Individual plaque and the recipient's name will be added to a permanent
plaque maintained within the department. This year's recipient is: Sheila
Jacobi.
Sheila received her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in
1996, her Master of Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1999
and then returned to Purdue University entering the Animal Science graduate
program in January 2001 to pursue her Ph.D. under the direction of Dr.
Spurlock.
Sheila has been involved in the development of the Center for Comparative
Medicine, which embodies collaborative efforts among the Schools of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University, and the Indiana
University School of Medicine. Her research has contributed much to the
prevailing theme of the Center being identified as developing the pig as a
model for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
Just a few of Sheila's activities are:
- ANSC Graduate Student Association Vice-President, 2003-2004
- ANSC Graduate Student Association Academic Quadrathlon Committee, 2002-2005
- ANSC Graduate Student Association Fall Picnic Co-Chair, 2003
- ANSC Graduate Student Association Fall Picnic Chair, 2004
- Workshop for Youth, Purdue University, Spring 2004 and 2005
- Member of the American Society of Animal Sciences
- Student member of the Endocrine Society
- Teaching Assistant ANSC 102
- Guest Lecturer, Adipocyte Physiology, fall 2004; Nutritional
Biochemistry, spring 2005
Nominator's comments include, "... Sheila is an exemplary graduate
student, and in my opinion, and that of numerous other faculty members, she
is one of the finest young scientists that the School of Agriculture at
Purdue University has had the pleasure of educating. Her kind and cordial way
has made her popular among her peers and among the faculty, but more than
anything, her academic abilities and research acumen have earned their
respect."
Congratulations Sheila.
THE BOOK-HARMON LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP IN ANIMAL SCIENCES
The Book-Harmon Leadership Scholarship in Animal Sciences was
established by Bob Book and Bud Harmon in recognition of their efforts to
provide and promote leadership in animal agriculture. Each year, the
Book-Harmon Leadership Scholarship provides a $1,000 scholarship to reward a
graduate student in Animal Sciences that has displayed outstanding Leadership
skills and efforts.
Criteria for receiving the scholarship:
- Major in Animal Sciences
- Have and maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Possess good communication and leadership skills
- Be involved with department, university and national organizations
The FIRST Book-Harmon Leadership Scholarship in Animal Sciences is awarded
to Darrin Karcher.
Darrin joined Dr. Applegate's laboratory in August of 2003 after
completing his MS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Darrin has
maintains an outstanding GPA (3.7) and has been active in several service
organizations.
EXCELLENCE IN EXTENSION/OUTREACH
Presentations (Contributor)
- Poultry Management, Ohio 4-H Youth Extension Workshop, 2004.
Participation and Impact 75.
- How to Prepare Your Birds for Show, Ohio 4-H Youth Extension Workshop,
2004. Participation and Impact 75.
SERVICE
Department
- Member Avian Science Club, 2003 – present
- Workshop for Youth, Organized Poultry Portion, 2004
College
- Representative to Library Advisory Committee, 2004 – 2005
University
- Purdue Graduate Student Government Social Committee Chair, 2004
- Purdue Graduate Student Government Animal Science Student Representative, 2003 - 2004
- Purdue Graduate Student Government Strategic and Legislative Planning Committee, 2003 – 2004
Professional
- Student Representative USA World Poultry Science Association Board of Directors, 2003-2004
- Member Poultry Science Association
- Member World's Poultry Science Association
Community
- Member Bach Chorale, 2003-2004
- Member First United Methodist Church Choir, 2003-2004
Darrin's philosophy is "A good leader also is an active team player,
making sure everyone on the team has voiced his opinion…I believe leading by
example is more influential than leading by voice..."
Congratulations, Darrin