AgriLife Extension Superior Service awards presented to agency faculty, staff
Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, [email protected]
Contact: Lara Burhenn, 979-458-8498, [email protected]
COLLEGE STATION – Faculty and staff of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service received the agency’s Superior Service Award during a ceremony Jan. 8 in College Station.
A total of 17 individuals and seven teams were acknowledged for receiving this award, the agency’s highest, during AgriLife Extension’s recent statewide conference.
The agency’s interim director, Dr. Parr Rosson, said the Superior Service Award recognizes AgriLife Extension personnel who provide outstanding performance in education — or other outstanding services — to the organization and Texas residents.
“These award winners are to be commended for the exemplary work they do each day in improving the lives of Texans through educational outreach and technical assistance, helping them meet society’s challenges as well as their individual needs,” Rosson said.
Recipients of 2019 Extension in the City Award and 2019 Partnership Award were also recognized at the ceremony.
The Extension in the City Award recognizes outstanding support and leadership by elected officials for AgriLife Extension programs serving urban areas of the state.
The agency’s Partnership Award honors key individuals, organizations, agencies and others outside The Texas A&M University System whose dedicated support and excellence have significantly enhanced the impact of AgriLife Extension programming.
The categories and names of individuals receiving the Superior Service Award are:
– AgriLife Extension county agents:
Lorrie Coop, family and community health, Knox County.
Kayla Neill, 4-H youth development, Parker County.
Leonard Haynes, agriculture and natural resources, Donley County.
Tom Guthrie, agriculture and natural resources, Mills County.
Andy Holloway, agriculture and natural resources, Hemphill County.
– AgriLife Extension specialist or program director/coordinator:
Tim Hartmann, program specialist I, College Station.
Ward Ling, program specialist II, College Station.
— Volunteerism:
Sonja Stueart-Davis, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Harris County.
– Diversity (team award):
Youth Mental Health First Aid program
Lorrie Coop, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Knox County.
Monica Walker, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Baylor County.
Alinda Cox, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Jack County.
– Office Support-District/State:
Marilyn Frenzel, assistant to associate director, College Station.
Kay White, administrative associate III, Vernon.
– Office Support-County:
Marcia Felton, secretary, Milam County.
Erin Wade, office manager, Parker County.
– AgriLife Extension Program Support:
Leslie Lazenby, AgriLife Extension 4-H program assistant, Madison County.
– Distinguished Career:
Dr. Charles Allen, AgriLife Extension entomologist and associate department head, San Angelo.
Jane Rowan, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Taylor County.
Roy Walston, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture and natural resources, Kerr County.
– Agency Leadership:
Dana Tarter, AgriLife Extension regional program leader-family and community health and 4-H youth development, Vernon.
– Teams:
Child Care Partnership
Michelle Allen, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Austin County.
Gayle Bludau, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Lavaca County.
Sally Garrett, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Fayette County.
Denise Goebel, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Dewitt County.
Hannah Krebs, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health agent, Washington County.
Jenifer Boening, AgriLife Extension program assistant-family and community health, Fayette County.
Water My Yard Team
Dr. Guy Phipps, AgriLife Extension agricultural engineer-irrigation and water management, College Station.
Dr. Charles Swanson, AgriLife Extension program specialist-biological and agricultural engineering, College Station.
David Flahive, AgriLife Extension systems administrator I-biological and agricultural engineering, College Station.
Denise Hickey, public relations and water conservation manager, North Texas Municipal Water District, Plano.
Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Team
Dr. Mengmeng Gu, AgriLife Extension specialist–horticultural sciences, College Station.
Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist, Dallas.
Dr. Yu Zhang, associate professor, agricultural economics, College Station.
Erfan Vafaie, AgriLife Extension program specialist-integrated pest management, Overton.
Laura Miller, AgriLife Extension agent-horticulture, Tarrant County.
Janet Laminack, AgriLife Extension agent-horticulture, Denton County.
Cow-Calf Clinic
Edward Schneider, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture and natural resources, Robertson County.
Lyle Zoeller, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture, Bell County.
Floyd Ingram, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture and natural resources, Milam County.
Whitney Grantham, AgriLife Extension agent-natural resources, Bell County.
Pasquale Swaner, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture and natural resources, Falls County.
John Grange, AgriLife Extension agent-agriculture and natural resources and 4-H coordinator, Burleson County.
Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station.
Central Texas Child Care Conference
Lynette Babcock, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Palo Pinto County.
Andrea Degelia, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Erath County.
Sheila Ondrusek, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Hamilton County.
Kathy Smith, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Parker County.
Kate Whitney, AgriLife Extension agent-horticulture, Williamson County.
Kelli Brown, AgriLife Extension agent-family and community health, Hood County.
Non-agency team members:
Dr. Melissa Roberts-Becker, associate professor, department of curriculum and instruction, Tarleton State University, Stephenville.
Kristina Higgins, assistant professor, department of curriculum and instruction, Tarleton State University, Stephenville.
Elizabeth Stephens, director, Tarleton State Child Development Center,Tarleton State University, Stephenville.
Ranch Management University
Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension specialist and associate department head-soil and crop sciences, College Station.
Dr. Jim Cathey, associate director Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, College Station.
Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist-livestock marketing, College Station.
Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station.
Linda Francis, AgriLife Extension administrative coordinator II-soil and crop science, College Station.
Matt Brown, AgriLife Extension program specialist I-soil and crop sciences, College Station.
A 2019 Extension in the City Award was presented to McLennan County Judge Scott Felton and Fort Bend County Judge Robert E. Hebert. Felton was recognized for his longtime support of AgriLife Extension and for his dedication to civic projects, the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo and the agriculture industry. Hebert was recognized for his support of the agency and of educational efforts relating to all areas of AgriLife Extension.
A 2019 Partnership Award was presented to Texas Farm Bureau, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Ducks Unlimited and the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
