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.
Teach Ag!
Banquet-
Teach Ag! joined
with Collegiate FFA to celebrate the 80th 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 4th 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 89th 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
