Ag Ed Year in Review #success

Don't blink you might just have missed an amazing year for our department faculty and students! 2016 has been a year full of many rewarding experiences for our department. If you did not stay connected with us throughout the past 12 months, we have outlined below a few of the amazing individuals and events. 

JANUARY

Dr. Laura Rice Recognized for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching-

The Paul R. and Joan M. Shellenberger Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is an honor for any teacher here on the Penn State Campus. This award recognizes full time instructors who exhibit excellence in undergraduate teaching and contribute significantly to the education of undergraduate students. Dr. Laura Rice was honored with this award as an instructor in the Agriculture Education and Extension Department. She teaches AEE 100 and helps prepare student teacher candidates by working with them one-on-one.

FEBRUARY

Dr. Daniel Foster Receives Recognition as PAAE Mentor of the Year-

The Pennsylvania Association of Agriculture Educators recognizes many members each year for their outstanding service, dedication and accomplishments. This year Dr. Daniel Foster is the PAAE Mentor of the Year!  His continued dedication and mentoring to various secondary ag teachers makes him deserving of this award. He was nominated by the Directors of Pennsylvania Agricultural Educators.

APRIL

Teach Ag! Banquet-

Teach Ag! joined with Collegiate FFA to celebrate the 80^th end of semester banquet! The banquet recognized the organization’s and individual members' accomplishments. Guests in attendance were Mr. Cliff Day, retired agricultural educator,  and Mr. Scott Sheely, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The following individuals were honored for their service to our program: Diane Glock Cornman (Educator of the Year), Matthew Snyder (Outstanding Teach Ag! Member of the Year), Katie Andrews (Collegiate FFA Outstanding Senior).

MAY

PSU College of Agricultural Sciences Graduation Ceremony-

The twelve 2016 Student Teachers returned back to University Park to put on their caps and gowns, and walk across stage to receive the diploma they worked hard for throughout the year.  All of these graduates have since been hired, and are creating change in programs across the country!

Domestic Study Away-

Seven future agricultural educators participated in the 4^th annual Domestic Study Away trip. The focus was STEM in agricultural education in urban and rural settings. Although they each had different reasons for going on this trip, they all ended with renewed passion for agricultural education.

JUNE

PA FFA State Days-

This year the Penn State Teach Ag! Essay Contest had 52 participates. The contest allowed agriculture students from across Pennsylvania to experience a day in the life of an ag teacher. Students had to pick an agriculture topic, develop a lesson plan to teach their class, and then write an essay.  Their essay had to answer the following questions; “Why teach Ag?” and “What I learned as an Ag teacher for a day!” The top four individual students awarded at PA FFA State Days were Bethany Comp (Greenwood High School), Alaina Davis (Octorara High School), Thomas Gabel (Newport High School), and KamiLee Woodring (Bald Eagle Area High School).

SEPTEMBER

FAST Symposium-

The 2016 Future Agriscience Teacher (FAST) symposium was held September 20 - 22 in conjunction with the National Teach Ag Day celebrations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Of the twenty-three individuals selected, two were members of the Penn State Teach Ag! Society, and Agricultural Education Student Teacher Candidates. Congratulations to George Dietrich and Victoria Herr for being selected to participate in the FAST symposium!

Big E-

Eight members of Penn State Collegiate FFA traveled to West Springfield to assist with preparation and facilitation of several CDEs. During the first day, they assisted with the Extemporaneous Speaking, and Vet Science CDEs. Participants then assisted supervisors with Poultry, Environmental and Natural Resources, and Food Science CDEs.

OCTOBER

National FFA Convention-

Seven, 2017 Penn State Student Teachers, and eighteen students studying Agricultural and Extension Education participated in National Alpha Tau Alpha competitions. there were many high placing individuals and teams.  With all the individual and team achievements, the Penn State Teach Ag! Society was able to receive recognition as the recipient of the A.W. Nolan Memorial Leadership Award at the ATA Conclave. These are achievements our members can be proud of! 

Dr. John Ewing Receive Honorary American Degree-

Dr. Ewing was chosen to receive the Honorary American FFA Degree at the 89^th National FFA Convention. He was nominated by the Pennsylvania FFA Association, then the members of the National FFA board of directors approved Dr. Ewing's nomination. The Honorary American FFA Degree is an opportunity to recognize those who have gone beyond valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students by inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturists. 

NOVEMBER

Dr. John Ewing Receives Northern Region Award –

Congratulations Dr. Ewing for being recognized as the Community of Scholars 2016 Northern Region Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences.The Community of Scholars Honoring Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences program recognizes outstanding college professors of agriculture, natural resources, veterinary and human sciences was launched in 1992 to recognize university faculty for preparing students for the future. 

Operation Christmas Child-

The Penn State Collegiate FFA and Teach Ag! Society joined together to give back to those less fortunate. Together 35 members channeled their holiday spirit to join in celebration of National Collection Week to pack 60 boxes for Operation Christmas Child! Operation Christmas Child uses gift-filled shoeboxes to ensure that children in need around the world have something worth celebrating.

DECEMBER

Alpha Tau Alpha Initiation-

Seven students were initiated into the Alpha Tau Alpha Eta Chapter. Alpha Tau Alpha is a national, professional, honorary agricultural society founded in 1921. The Eta Chapter was organized at Penn State in 1931, and has continued membership since! The organization strives to promote the high standards and ideals in agricultural and extension education. The seven students that joined will enjoy the fellowship with members in an atmosphere of high scholarship that is dedicated to teaching, and who have a sincere desire to be a leader. These students are the following individuals: Michael Cahill, Rose Cowan, George Dietrich, Victoria Herr, Sara Lang, Matt Snyder, and Halee Wasson. 

As you can see, 2016 was a fantastic year! All three of our faculty members were awarded with academic excellence awards.  We are swelled with Penn State Pride!
Stay tune to find out the larger impact we will leave in 2017 as we continue to Teach Ag!  WE ARE................

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.

Halee Wasson

Student Blogger

Twitter Handle: @wasson_halee

2018 Agriculture Education Student Teacher