Congratulations!
The NPA is pleased to recognize the many accomplishments of our dedicated researchers and support staff. Our researchers are key contributors to many of the foremost scientific discoveries impacting American agriculture and the nation’s food supply and their contributions are being recognized both within and outside ARS. In addition, our very capable administrative and support staff have earned recognition for their “behind the scenes” roles as well.
On this page:
- NPA Awards
- National Awards
Please also see our Outside Awards page, listing our many NPA employees whose contributions have been recognized by organizations outside of ARS.
NPA Mentors of the Year - 2007
Dr. James Throne
|
Dr. Jack Morgan
|
From Dr. Will Blackburn It is my pleasure to announce that Dr. James Throne and Dr. Jack Morgan have been selected as Mentors of the Year for their exceptional levels of dedication and personal attention given to their assigned protégés. Dr. Throne was nominated by his protégé, Dr. Jamie Strange, and Dr. Morgan was nominated by his protégé, Dr. Rebecca Phillips.
Dr. Phillips characterized Dr. Morgan as the type of high-level scientist she hopes to one day become. Dr. Phillips further noted that Dr. Morgan has been open-minded, supportive, and has helped her consider potential research directions and impacts. Dr. Jamie Strange stated that Dr. Throne’s patience, insight, and advice have been invaluable, and that Dr. Throne has given him sound advice and practical suggestions.
Pease join me in congratulating Dr. Morgan and Dr. Throne. The mentoring component of the Newly Appointed Scientists Professional Development Program is designed to help ensure that new scientists have the tools they need to establish their research agendas and generally successfully transition to ARS.
Past winners: 2006 - NPA Mentors of the Year
Dr. Bill Kemp was the recipient of the 2006 NPA Distinguished Mentor of the Year, and Dr. Jon Hanson and Dr. Jim Schepers were each recognized as an NPA Mentor of the Year.
Detailed information on the Newly Appointed Scientists Professional Development Program can be found here:
Back to top
NPA Awards of Excellence
The NPA Awards of Excellence are presented biannually to recognize the best and brightest employees of the NPA. Winners are honored at the NPA Leadership Conference, held every two years at different sites. Our most recent winners include:
Administrative Management Support - 2008 Kathie Peterson, Administrative Officer Location Support Staff - Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming For exemplary service in developing a new improved administrative management system and training administrative staff at the Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory.
Past winners: 2006 - Lisa Mullenax, Lincoln, NE 2004 - Sue Sorum, Grand Forks, ND 2002 – Melanie Nyquist, Fargo, ND 2001 – Phil Dailey, Miles City, MT
Secretarial Support - 2008 Joan Rosch, Secretary U.S. Meat Animal Research Center - Clay Center, Nebraska For outstanding Office Professional service to the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center exemplifying efficiency and productivity, and promoting teamwork.
Past winners: 2006 - Jill Miller, Sidney, MT 2004 – Linda Kelly, Clay Center, NE 2002 – Alicia Meyers, Fargo, ND 2001 – Jan Preston, Lincoln, NE
Scientific Support - 2008 William Iversen, Physical Scientist Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory - Sidney, Montana For dedication to excellence, outstanding creativity in overcoming obstacles, cheerfully assisting others, and a strong commitment to ensuring the highest quality NPARL research program.
Past winners: 2006 - Elizabeth Bonifacio-Maghirang, Manhattan, KS 2004 – Melanie Nyquist, Fargo, ND 2002 – Debbie Edmunds, Fort Collins, CO 2001 – Terry Cassity, Manhattan, KS
EEO/Diversity
Past winners: 2006 - Larry Charlet, Fargo, ND 2002 – James Penland, Grand Forks, ND
Information Technology - 2008 Jeff Anderes, Information Technology Specialist Grain Marketing and Production Research Center - Manhattan, Kansas For outstanding achievement and dedication in delivering innovative IT services to the Grain Marketing and Production Research Center.
Past winners: 2006 - Terry Kuntz, Grand Forks, ND 2004 – Heather Gossel, Fort Collins, CO 2002 – Bill Dailey, Fort Collins, CO & Kevin Dahl, Sidney, MT
Safety, Health, and Environment - 2008 JoAnne Gresens, Safety & Occupational Health Specialist Grain Marketing and Production Research Center - Manhattan, Kansas For exemplary service in maintaining a safe working environment at the Grain Marketing and Production Research Center.
Past winners: 2006 - Patricia Bartling, Fort Collins, CO 2004 – Eugene Life, Miles City, MT 2002 – David Allard, Grand Forks, ND 2001 – Jackie Couture, Sidney, MT
Back to top
NPA Senior Research Scientist of the Year
NPA Senior Research Scientist - 2008 Timothy Smith – Clay Center, NE
For sustained productivity and leadership in cattle genomics research and technology transfer.
Past Winners: 2007 – Richard Beeman, Manhattan, KS 2006 – Jeff Peterson, Lincoln, NE 2005 – Ronald Follett, Fort Collins, CO 2004 – James Schepers, Lincoln, NE 2003 – Lajpat Ahuja, Fort Collins, CO
Back to top
NPA Early Career Research Scientist of the Year
NPA Early Career Research Scientist - 2008 Scott Bean – Manhattan, KS
Fort outstanding independent and collaborative research contributions to solve industry problems resulting in new and more efficient uses of sorghum.
Past Winners: 2007 – Mark Liebig, Mandan, ND 2006 – Justin Derner, Cheyenne, WY 2005 – Justin Faris, Fargo, ND 2004 – James Campbell, Manhattan, KS 2003 – Eduardo Casas, Clay Center, NE
Back to top
NPA Technology Transfer Awards
NPA Technology Transfer Award – 2007
Post-Harvest Food Safety Group (Terry Arthur, Joseph Bosilevac, Mohammad Koohmaraie, Steven Shackelford, & Tommy Wheeler) Outstanding Efforts - For the development and implementation of technology that reduces pathogen contamination on cattle hides and improves the safety of the red meat supply.
Past Winners: 2006 - Superior Efforts - RZWQM2 Team (Lajpat Ahuja, Liwang Ma, Robert Malone, Ken Rojas, Saseendran Anapalli, James Ascough, and Tim Green- Fort Collins, CO)
2005 - Superior Efforts - NIR Spectroscopy Automated Sorting Team (Floyd Dowell, Tom Pearson, Daniel Brabec, Elizabeth Mahgirang, Robert Rousser & Duane Walter –Manhattan, KS)
2004 – Administrator’s Award (Will Laegreid, Mike Heaton & Mike Clawson - Clay Center, NE)
2004 - Superior Efforts - Beef Classification Group (Steven Shackelford, Tommy Wheeler, Mohammad Koohmaraie - Clay Center, NE)
2003 - Superior Efforts - Jerry Miller, Fargo, ND
Back to top
OSQR Project Plan No Revision Awards
Congratulations to the following recipients of the NPA “No Revision” Award for the peer review of their project plans.
This year's awards were given in May of 2008.
Poisonous Plant Research Unit, Logan, UT 11/19/2007
Kip Panter, Research Leader Bryan Stegelmeier, Vet Medical Officer Lynn James, Collaborator Thomas Davis, Research Biologist Dale Gardner, Research Chemist Stephen Lee, Research Chemist Kevin Welch, Research Toxicologist Terrie Wierenga, Bio Science Lab Tech Chris Spall, Secretary Pat Bradfield, Secretary
For their “No Revision” score on their Project Plan: Toxicity of Pyrrolizide Alkaloid-Containing Plants and Other Hepatotoxic and Neurotoxic Plants
Sunflower Research Unit, Fargo, ND 3/4/2008
Brady Vick, Research Leader Jinguo Hu, Molecular Geneticist Chao-Chien Jan, Plant Geneticist Gerald Seiler, Botanist Brenda Fradet, Secretary
For their “No Revision” score on their Project Plan: Sunflower Germplasm Diversification and Characterization Utilizing Wild Sunflower Species, Cytogenetics, and Applied Genomics
Sunflower Research Unit, Fargo, ND 3/4/2008
Brady Vick, Research Leader Thomas Gulya, Research Plant Pathologist Laurence Charlet, Research Entomologist
For their “No Revision” score on their Project Plan: Sunflower Germplasm Development for Improved Insect and Disease Resistance
Plant & Animal Genetic Resources Preservation Research Unit, Fort Collins, CO 2/7/2008
Christina Walters, Research Plant Physiologist Gayle Volk, Research Plant Physiologist Chris Richards, Research Plant Geneticist
For their “No Revision” score on their Project Plan: Research to Develop Strategies and Technologies for Preserving Plant Genetic Diversity in ex situ Genebanks
Back to top
AFM Support Awards for Excellence
Jim Bradley, Deputy Administrator, Administrative and Financial Management, announces the winners of the AFM Support Awards for Excellence. Recipients are recognized at the ARS Annual Recognition Program in Washington, DC. Congratulations to our winners from the NPA!
AFM Support Awards for Excellence – 2008
Jan Jones – Fort Collins, CO Silver Award for Excellence For exceptional support and guidance to the Northern Plains Area in negotiating a complex series of policies and procedures, thus saving time and energy, as well as reducing frustration at the Unit level.
Past NPA Winners: 2006 - Bronze Award - Jackie Couture, Sidney, MT 2005 - Bronze Award - Benny Wong, Fort Collins, CO
Back to top
ARS Science Hall of Fame
ARS Science Hall of Fame Program Winner from the NPA - 2004
Dr. Keith E. Gregory (retired) - Clay Center, Nebraska For recognition of outstanding research contributions in genetics and breeding of beef cattle and for leadership of research programs with the Agricultural Research Service.
Back to Top
Excellence in Information Award
Excellence in Information Award – 2007
Bethany Redlin - Sidney, MT For exemplary service and creativity in information technologies that communicates ARS findings to customers and promote NPARL, ARS, and USDA accomplishments regionally, nationally and internationally.
Past NPA Winners: 2004 – Bethany Redlin, Sidney, MT
Back to Top
T.W. Edminster Research Associate Award
T.W. Edminster Research Associate Award – 2005
Justin Faris - Fargo, ND For the outstanding proposal “Function of the Wheat Agronomic SuperGene Q.”
Back to Top
USDA Secretary’s Honor Awards
USDA Secretary’s Honor Award – 2004
Team Leafy Spurge - Sidney, MT (Gerry Anderson, Beth Redlin, Jill Miller, Lloyd Wendell, Bob Richard & Chad Prosser) For the development and implementation of biologically-based, integrated leafy spurge management systems across the United States and Canada that preserve natural resources, control noxious weeds, and protect our environment.
Back to Top
The user-friendly URL for this page is: http://www.ars.usda.gov/npa/awards
|