USU College of Agriculture Honors Its Members

Utah State University’s College of Agriculture honored its most outstanding faculty, staff and students in the 19th annual Awards & Honors Recognition banquet held recently. The annual ceremony includes a variety of recognitions awarded by the College of Agriculture that range from achievement awards to scholarship funds for agricultural students.

Headlining the ceremony was Donald Smee, who received the James LeGrand Shupe Achievement Award. Smee is a research professor with the Institute for Antiviral Research in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. He has more than 100 works published and has worked with the National Institute of Health on the chemotherapy of influenza virus infections. He is also working on developing a treatment for orthopox virus infections. 

 

Basudeb Biswas was awarded the Distinguished Professor Award for his career-long devotion to the study of international development in agriculture. He is one of the most celebrated professors at Utah State, having previously won numerous teaching and advising awards from the College of Agriculture, USU alumni association, international student council, College of Business and the department of economics. He has also won the University Graduate Mentor of the Year award.

 

After earning near perfect scores on his teacher evaluations, Rudy Tarpley of the agricultural systems technology department received the Teacher of the Year award. Tarpley also received the College of Agriculture’s Advisor of the Year Award in 2005 and has won the Western Region Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Association for Agricultural Education in 2007. “I love how enthusiastic Dr. Tarpley is about learning and agriculture,” said former student Kody Howells. “His enthusiasm spreads throughout the room whenever he is teaching.

 

The College of Agriculture awarded John Morrey the Researcher of the Year Award for 2007. Morrey is a research professor of virology in the department of animal, dairy and veterinary sciences. He is also director of the Institute for Antiviral Research. His team is researching new treatments for West Nile virus, hepatitis B virus and Mad Cow diseases.

 

The winner of the College of Agriculture Scholar of the Year is Craig J. Louder, a student in the animal sciences department. Louder, a graduate of North Summit High School, has been active both on and off campus. Lauder was a member of the platinum award-winning team at the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge’s National Competition held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2007.

 

This year’s recipient of the Faculty Advisor of the Year Award is Brian K. Warnick, an assistant professor in the agricultural systems technology and education department. Warnick was chosen for his outstanding work as an advisor to approximately 50 undergraduate students. He was cited for his professional preparation of those who have chosen to become agricultural science and technology teachers.

 

“Dr. Warnick is always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it,” said Justin Thornley, a USU graduate. “He always has the answers and if he doesn’t, he finds out quickly and notifies you as soon as possible.”

 

Lazell Allen of the agricultural systems technology and education department received the Service to Students Award. She was honored for being the ‘face’ of the department as she meets, greets and serves students, faculty, staff and visitors in a professional and friendly manner. Allen works with approximately 140 undergraduate students and 40 graduate students.

 

Art Lamont, a business manager in the animal, dairy and veterinary sciences department. Lamont received the College of Agriculture Service to the Faculty Award. Lamont has maintained the fiscal affairs of a large department that requires a thorough understanding of multiple USU policies and procedures and has executed those responsibilities efficiently.

 

Adding to its Alumni Hall of Honor, the College of Agriculture honored Lyman Rich, who graduated from Utah State in 1925. Since then, Rich has been influential in the advancement of the dairy sciences. He has authored more than 100 publications and has studied artificial insemination in 12 European countries and many U.S. states. He was one of the first people to use a computer for the storage of important dairy records. The computer program that he developed today stores the testing records for over 1.8 million cows. In 1956, Rich was awarded the National Agriculture Superior Service Award in Washington D.C.

 

Along with the individual accolades awarded by USU’s College of Agriculture, the college also awarded 110 scholarships from various organizations to its most outstanding students. For more information about Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and its departments, visit the Web site.