DATE: January 02, 2008
CONTACT:
Fran Wolak, (864) 656-3382
fwolak@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741
spalmer@clemson.edu
Clemson employees honored with extension awards
CLEMSON – Ten Clemson University employees were honored recently for their outstanding service to Clemson University.
Karen Barr, administrative assistance in Bamberg, won an outstanding service award for her 20 years of faithful service. She provides everyday assistance to clientele, agents and other administrative assistants.
“Karen does not hesitate to respond with support,” said Joe Varn, lead county extension agent. “She is held in high esteem by all her supervisors and co-workers.”
Paulette C. Gay, 4-H volunteer coordinator in Lexington County, also was honored with an outstanding service award.
“Paulette has an enthusiastic and positive attitude that is contagious among 4-H’ers and 4-H volunteers,” said Bonnie Anderson, administrative assistant in Lexington County. “Her leadership skills have enabled the 4-H program in Lexington and Richland counties to grow.”
Deborah J. Thomason, Clemson extension specialist and professor, won the superior performance award. Kelley Rembert, state 4-H team leader, said Thomason is well respected in the state, regionally and nationally for her work in building family strengths.
Thomason also is noted for her development of “Taking Charge in Challenging Times,” a comprehensive extension program for disaster preparedness as well as 4-H Consumer Judging Manual. She’s authored almost 100 extension brochures, bulletins, refereed journal articles, book chapters, proceedings and internet articles.
Marion Barnes, senior Clemson extension agent for Allendale, Colleton and Hampton counties, also received a superior performance award for his support of various programs such as: 4-H Shooting Sports, forestry, aquatic weed control and cotton and soybean disease-control efforts.
“Marion has developed extension programs based on the needs of the local area that have had a direct impact on the quality of life for landowners in the Lowcountry and around the state,” said Robert Franklin, area Clemson extension agent in Colleton County.
Greg Henderson, Clemson extension agent; Dan Horton, Clemson extension entomologist; Desmond Layne, Clemson extension horticulture specialist; Greg Reighard, Clemson horticulturist; Andy Rollins, Clemson extension agent; and Guido Schnabel, Clemson plant pathologist, have been honored with the team award. They worked on the Peach Team to develop a sustainable, safe and profitable peach production system for the Southeast.
“Their development of regional production and management guides covering varieties, rootstocks and pesticide safety are prime examples of the types of materials produced by this team,” said Joe Culin, chairman of the entomology, soils and plant sciences department.
“Our peach team is truly the best in the country,” said Ted Whitwell, chairman of the horticulture department. “They have focused on solving tough problems and have worked together with the growers to get these solutions implemented.”
Winners received a cash award.
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