April 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Wehner, Dean
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
(805) 756-2161

Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Announces Staff Awards

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture recently honored 10 faculty and staff members for outstanding work and accomplishments.

Several of the awards are supported by industry. This year’s recipients are:

Professor Stan Henderson, Dairy Science Department, Seminis Outstanding Faculty Advisor. Henderson was honored for making students his top priority and getting them actively involved in industry.

Professor Jeff Wong, Horticulture and Crop Science Department, Monsanto New Faculty Award. Wong’s students call him a natural teacher who is still eager to learn. Fellow professors praised Wong as an organized, enthusiastic instructor, and one of the best in the college.

Professor Mike Hall, Animal Science Department, Sunkist Sustained Excellence Award. He was noted for helping students with career planning, advising, and in the classroom.  In addition to his teaching duties, Hall also supervises several student enterprise projects including calving, halter breaking horses, artificial insemination, the annual bull test, and more.

Kendi Root, Outstanding Lecturer Award. Root is a Lecturer in recreation, parks and tourism in the Natural Resources Management Department. Students praised her as enthusiastic and interesting, and knowledgeable about her specialty: special event planning.

Professor John Phillips, Horticulture and Crop Science Department, Outstanding Faculty Award. Phillips was praised for approaching his professorship as a service position, focusing on helping students without compromising academic standards.

Launnie Ginn, Outstanding Staff Award. Ginn is a technician in the Horticulture and Crop Science Department. Students praised him as a wonderful mentor and supervisor.

Debbie Ruiz, Smithers-Oasis Outstanding Staff Award. Ruiz is an administrative support coordinator in the Animal Science Department. She serves as the key contact for Animal Science students and has assumed a leadership role in coordinating student advising.

Casey Callaghan, Rain for Rent Outstanding Staff Award. Callaghan is the Animal Nutrition Center manager in the Animal Science Department. He was extensively involved in the construction of the new Animal Nutrition Center on campus.

Steve Auten, Rain for Rent Outstanding Staff Award. Auten is the resource manager at Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch. “Steve is that dependable “go to” guy that you can count on to put forth his best effort no matter what he has been asked to do,” said College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Dean David Wehner.

Katina Palamidas, Talley Farms Outstanding Staff Award. Palamidas is an administrative support assistant in the Agribusiness Department. Palamidas was honored for being consistently cheerful and helpful in all of her dealings with the public and essential to the department’s function.

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