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CAFES Honors Outstanding Individuals in Agriculture

By Jenna Wegner
UW-RF Public Affairs
[photos]

APRIL 28, 2006--Harvesting the Knowledge of the World was the theme for the annual College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Awards Banquet held April 25.

The college named Erin Regan as top academic senior and outstanding senior. Gary W. Onan was named Outstanding Teacher.

Regan, from Deerfield, was awarded the Rochelle Junkman Seymour Award for top senior academic honors. The award goes to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average within the college. Regan was also awarded the Dr. Earl Hildebrand Memorial Award as outstanding CAFES senior.

During her four years at UW-RF, Regan, a horticulture major, has been an exemplary student being named to the Dean's List every semester. Regan graduates Summa Cum Laude with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and will attend graduate school at North Carolina State University this fall.

She has been involved with Horticulture Society, Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society for Floriculture, Landscape, and Ornamental Horticulture and was a member of the Floral Evaluation Team. Regan was a part of the Search and Screen Committee for the new CAFES Dean, co-chaired the Floral Evaluation Contest for the Ag Technology Contest, and was a recipient of the USDA/CAFES Research Grant.

Onan, the 2006 CAFES Outstanding Teacher, joined UW-RF and the animal and food science department in 1997.

Since that time, Onan has been known for his significant contributions to the college, university and community. Besides instructing courses, Onan also coaches the UW-RF livestock and meat animal evaluation teams. He was assistant coach for the Pierce County Livestock Judging Team that won the state 4-H contest. Onan is widely known throughout the state for his involvement in livestock judging.

Onan has also mentored students in the McNair Scholars program, the USDA Challenge Grant sponsored Undergraduate Research Experience, and this summer he'll be working with a student through the CAFES Funds for Excellence Student Scholars program.

"I am honored to receive this award," said Onan. "The students make my job fun. I feed off their enthusiasm."

In honor of Chancellor Don Betz's inauguration, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences presented Betz with a grove of trees to be planted in his honor.

Scholarships totaling $112,258 was awarded to 161 recipients. Other academic and department honors were also awarded at the banquet.

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Last updated: Monday, 08-May-2006 14:19:03 CDT