STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, Fall 2010

FORESTRY STUDENTS REVIVE VEISHEA TRADITION, FRIENDLY RIVALRY

As part of Veishea 2010 festivities, forestry students revived a tradition from the 1960s by facing off against civil engineering students in a tug-of-war competition. The forestry students were victorious and were presented with the coveted double-bit axe trophy that also dates back to the early years of this event. Faculty speculate the tug-of-war tradition may have grown out of the friendly rivalry between forestry and civil engineering students within a surveying course that was required for both disciplines; no one is sure why the tradition was suspended. Current forestry club members challenged the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers after they came across the double-bit axe cleaning a storeroom. The civil engineers were eager to take up the challenge. Read more and see more photos.

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BORLAUG LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH INTERNSHIP

Mary Foell, senior in public service and administration in agriculture, spent her summer creating a curriculum that teaches Norman Borlaug’s legacy. Foell is the Borlaug Scholar Award and Internship recipient, made possible by the college and the ISU Agricultural Endowment. Read more.

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TEAMS BRING HOME BIG HONORS

- Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, best student branch, first place Fountain Wars Competition, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

- Ag Business Club, Outstanding Chapter Award and Creative Club Award, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

- National Agri-Marketing Association, John Deere Signature Award for overall chapter involvement, second place Outstanding Chapter, fourth place National Agri-Marketing Association Student Marketing Competition

- Crops Team, second place National North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference

- Horse Judging Team, third place, National Reining Breeders Classic

- Soils Team, third place team judging, National Collegiate Soils Contest

- Livestock Judging Team, high team overall, high team reasons, high team in cattle, Northern Lights Contest

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DAIRY SCIENCE CLUB HONORED FOR SERVICE TO STORY COUNTY

The Dairy Science Club was honored for their work with Food at First in Ames with a Story County Youth Volunteer Award. Club members served a meal and made a financial contribution each month. “They are energetic young people who want to make a difference in the lives of those who cannot make ends meet … or the family who is employed but still cannot meet the everyday expenses that so many others take for granted. This is a true example of ISU students doing positive things with and for the community,” wrote their nominator.

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ADVENTURES WITH BELUGAS, POLAR BEARS AND MORE

Interacting with beluga whales, polar bears, manatees and dolphins was part of the summer’s daily routine for Paul Fenton and Breanna King, both juniors in biology who spent the summer as camp counselors for the Adventure Camps at SeaWorld in Orlando. Read more.

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HAVING A BLAST TRANSPLANTING RICE IN TAIWAN

“I never imagined that I’d be up to my calves in mud, drenched in sweat, transplanting rice and having a blast doing it. I learned far more than I could’ve imagined, experienced things I’d never even heard of and met some incredible people from around the globe.” Scott Henry, a junior in agricultural business, about his experience in the Exploring Agriculture in Taiwan program. Read more.

FACULTY AWARDS AND SERVICE, Fall 2010

ALUMNI NEWS IN BRIEF, Fall 2010

MAX AND LORENE SITTING IN A TREE…

Max and Lorene Mugge might not be sitting in their “anniversary tree,” but 59 years after they picked up the little seedling from the forestry exhibit at Veishea on Iowa State campus they still enjoy its shade.

Lorene tucked the tiny tree into her purse while she and her boyfriend Max were visiting

Iowa State campus during “Senior Skip Day” in 1951. She carried it back to Cleghorn, Iowa, where she planted it in her parents’ backyard. Since she and Max were married that December they consider the tree their “anniversary tree.” At 76 years old, Lorene jokes the two of them and that tree have made it through several tough Iowa winters. Their granddaughter Erin Mugge (’07 zoology), a recent College of Agriculture and Life Sciences grad, slipped a photo of the tree under a faculty member’s door with a note from Lorene. “We will have our 60th wedding anniversary next year, as will our special tree,” Lorene says.

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ISU HONORS IDALS WATER CHIEF AS “EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER”

The government official who oversees water programs for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) was honored in July by the college. Dean Lemke (’72 agricultural engineering), IDALS water resource bureau chief, was presented the Impact Award for Extraordinary Partnership by Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean. Read more.

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YOUNG ALUMS FLY HIGH ON CURTISS HALL BANNERS

Emma Flemmig (’10 biology, agronomy, international agriculture) and Charles Stewart (’00 agricultural biochemistry) are featured in two banners hanging on the front of Curtiss Hall. Stewart works for the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, Calif. Flemmig is the world president of International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences. The banners are being used to showcase the college by sharing alumni stories. Each banner has a URL that links to their stories – visit: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/emma/ and http://www.ag.iastate.edu/charles/.

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COLLEGE AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The following were recognized in October at the 2010 Iowa State University Honors and Awards Ceremony.

- Glen Mente (’61 animal husbandry, MS ’63 animal nutrition) and Mary Jo Mente, of Ames, National Service Award from the ISU Alumni Association

- James Borel (’78 agricultural business), of West Chester, Pa., Floyd Andre Award from the college

- Dana Robes (’67 dairy science) of Boca Grande, Fla., Henry A. Wallace Award from the college

- Rose Marie Boughton (’58 dietetics) of Bloomington, Minn., George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award from the college

- Andrea Falk Sellers (’94 agricultural biochemistry) of Lake Lotawana, Mo., Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the college

- Wayne Fuller (’55 agricultural business, MS ’57 agricultural economics, PhD ’59) of Ames, Distinguished Service Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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ALUMNI AND IOWA EGG COUNCIL HONORED

The ISU Alumni Association and the ISU Foundation recognized alumni and an association with its most prestigious honors during the annual Distinguished Awards Celebration in April.

Nancy Cox (’70 bacteriology) and Roy Reiman (’57 agricultural journalism) received the distinguished alumni award, which honors alumni who are nationally and/or internationally recognized for preeminent contributions to their professions or life’s work. The Iowa Egg Council received the Order of the Knoll award recognizing outstanding generosity to the university by a corporation, foundation or association.

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ALUM’S COMPANY RECOGNIZED FOR INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Ching Seng Liew (’79 agronomy and pest management), founder and owner of Pacific Agriscience in Singapore, was presented an SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Growth Excellence Recognition. The company is an exporter and importer of agrichemicals, fertilizers and other crop inputs and was recognized in the international category. SME Growth Excellence Recognition is jointly organized by HSBC Commercial Banking and DP Information Group.

FACULTY AWARDS AND SERVICE, Spring 2010

KENEALY EARNS USDA EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD
Douglas Kenealy (’69 dairy science, ’74 PhD animal nutrition), professor of animal science, received the annual USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award. Kenealy was one of two people to receive the national award, which encompasses all the food and agricultural disciplines. The award is based on teaching quality, philosophy and methodology; service to the profession and students; and professional growth and development.

LAWRENCE NAMED CALS ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR EXTENSION
John Lawrence, economics, has been named College of Agriculture and Life Sciences associate dean of extension and outreach and director of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources. Lawrence (’84 animal science, ’86 MS economics) replaces Gerald Miller who stepped down in March. Lawrence previously served as director of ISU’s Iowa Beef Center.

MILLER SERVES AS INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTENSION
Longtime ISU faculty member and administrator Gerald “Jerry” Miller has been appointed interim vice president for extension and outreach, effective June 1. Miller (’71 MS agronomy, ’74 PhD) will succeed Jack Payne, vice president for extension and outreach since 2006, who accepted a position at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Miller recently stepped down as the associate dean for extension programs and outreach and the director of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

AGRONOMY PROF NAMED AAAS FELLOW
Michael Thompson, professor of agronomy, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is studying the environmental applications of soil science, including the molecular-scale interactions of organic chemicals with soil minerals and organic matter.

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IN MEMORIAM: LEE KOLMER, FORMER DEAN OF AGRICULTURE
Former Dean of Agriculture Lee Kolmer died Jan. 18 at Kavanaugh Hospice in Des Moines from congestive heart failure. He was 82. Kolmer (’52 MS ag economics, ’54 PhD) began his tenure as dean in 1972 and led the college through the farm crisis of the 1980s. Kolmer served Iowa State for most of his career. First as an Extension economist, then as Extension’s state leader for agricultural and economic development, then as assistant dean of University Extension. His 14-year tenure as dean is especially remembered for his focus on increasing financial investment in agricultural research, expanding the college’s international efforts and securing funds for scholarships and several college facilities. Kolmer was featured in the Spring 2008 issue of STORIES in Agriculture and Life Sciences.  To read the story visit  http://www.ag.iastate.edu/stories/archives/2008spring/kolmer.php.

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Hearty Hellos
•    James Bushnell, formerly of the University of California Energy Institute, has been named Iowa State’s first Cargill Endowed Chair in Energy Economics. He’ll also lead Iowa State’s Biobased Industry Center as an associate professor of economics.
•    Rebecca Christoffel has joined the natural resource ecology and management department as an assistant professor and ISU Extension wildlife specialist.

Fond Farewells
•    Jerry DeWitt has retired after more than 30 years with ISU. DeWitt joined the entomology faculty in 1972. He worked in administration for ISU Extension, the National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program of the USDA, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and, most recently, at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
•    Roger Ginder, professor in economics, has retired after 32 years of working with and for Iowa cooperatives. His research focused on agribusiness finance and management, cooperatives and agricultural marketing.

For a complete list of new faculty and staff in the college and a winners of college awards view the pdf convocation program.