Each year the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANR) celebrates the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of its students, staff, and faculty at the annual spring awards banquet. This year’s awardswere handed out at a the CFANR Outdoor Picnic at the Clippert Forest Resources Annex.
“Student awards were based on faculty votes of student performance in terms of academic performance as well as their fellowship with student peers,” said Dean Michael Blazier. “Faculty awards were based on teaching, research, and service to CFANR. The junior faculty award was given to a faculty member at the assistant professor rank. The senior faculty award was given to a professor at the associate professor or professor rank.” The college continues its tradition of recognizing award winners.
“We are blessed with consistent quality and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff said Blazier. This is what defines our college, and that is why we recognize individuals for their commitment to excellence.”
This year, CFANR award recipients are:
Outstanding Undergraduate Students
Minimum criteria to be eligible for this award includes the completion of 90 or more credit hours, and an overall GPA of 3.25 or greater. The award focuses on academic excellence as well as leadership, service, and other personal characteristics and qualities. Names of the students meeting the minimum criteria are distributed to CFANR faculty, and the faculty make the final selection.
Honorees are:
Mallory Kilcrease – Hamburg, Ark – Agriculture -Animal Science
Cole Whiteaker – Melbourne, Ark – Land Surveying
Zach Cater – Monticello, Ark – Natural Resources Managementw/Geospatial Science option
Brett Cunningham – Palmer, Texas – Overall Undergraduate- Natural Resources Management w/ Forestry option.
Outstanding Graduate Students
The recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Certificate and Master of Science Student Awards are selected through a poll of CFANR faculty. Faculty use a variety of criteria, including academic excellence, work ethic and leadership.
The honorees are:
Katherine Allen – New Roads, Louisiana- Graduate Certificate- Waterfowl, Habitat and Rec. Management
Tyler Corbin- Conway, Ark-Master of Science- Forest Resources
Faculty Excellence in Research Awards
The Faculty Excellence Awards recognizes exemplary contributions in research, teaching, and service for CFANR faculty.
The Senior Faculty Excellence award is awarded to faculty at the Associate and Professor ranks; this year’s honoree is:
Dr. Ben Babst, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology and Tree Ecophysiology
The Junior Faculty Excellence Award is awarded to faculty at the Assistant Professor rank, and this year’s honoree is:
Dr. Rocky Lindsey, Assistant Professor of Animal Science
Support Staff Excellence Award
The Support Staff Excellence Award recognizes an individual for notable and outstanding contributions to the success of the College, such as innovative problem-solving and personal growth in their appointment. The honoree is:
Lon Tegels, Communications Director
Blazier says he and the College extend their congratulations to each of its award recipients.
Each honoree will receive an engraved award as recognition.
About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, bring together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offer all of their programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.
