DATE:     12/17/98
CONTACT:  Dr. Nancy Porter, (864) 656-5718
          Joyce Christenbury, (864) 656-5714
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343

Christenbury Wins Clemson Extension Alumni Award

     CLEMSON -- Joyce Christenbury, a Clemson Extension family
resource management specialist, has received the Alumni Award for
Cooperative Extension Distinguished Public Service.
     Christenbury, a Clemson University faculty member for more
than 25 years, received the award from the Alumni Association
during the Dec. 17 Clemson faculty meeting. She is the daughter
of A.J. Hrvol and the late Janie K. Hrvol of Round O, S.C.
     She was recognized for "extraordinary dedication and service
to individuals and families in South Carolina and exceptional
success in the development and support of family resource
management programs." 
     "This award is indicative of the outstanding leadership
Joyce has shown in developing Extension programs. She has made a
positive impact on the lives of many South Carolinians," said Dan
Smith, director of Clemson Extension.
     Christenbury came to the Clemson faculty in 1973 from the 
University of Delaware. She earned a B.S. degree in home
economics from Winthrop College in 1969, an M.Ed. in housing,
management and equipment from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro in 1971 and took additional classes at Clemson 
University in 1975 and 1976. 
     Nancy Porter, a fellow family resource management specialist
at Clemson since 1990, made the nomination. She considers
Christenbury an excellent mentor for junior faculty.
     "Joyce has taught me everything I know about being an
Extension specialist," she said.
     Porter also cited Christenbury for developing nationally
recognized programs in the area of family resource management.
     "Many of the materials developed by Joyce have been adopted
and used by many other states," she said. One example is a career
exploration program for youth called "Go for the Goal" that has
been requested by 45 states and a few U.S. territories.
     Christenbury served as chair of the Family Resource
Management Interdisciplinary Team, which was responsible for
several major Extension programs designed to teach clients how to
keep track of important documents and how to take control of
family finances. They include: "File It, Find It"; "Financial
Focus"; "Financial Information Program"; and "Financial Planning
Throughout Your Lifetime."
     She was also home economics project leader for the Clemson 
University Management Assistance Program (CUMAP), a program
designed to assist financially stressed farm families.
     Christenbury is co-leader, along with Porter, of the Money
2000 program, which has enrolled more than 2,200 South 
Carolinians. Participants have set a combined goal of saving more 
than $5.7 million and reducing debt by more than $3.6 million by
the year 2000. 
     Porter said the honoree is dedicated to educating young
people. 
     "Years ago she almost singlehandedly brought life back into
the 4-H Amp Camp program, developing exciting curriculum and
finding funding," said Myrle Swicegood, former home economics
department head. 
     Porter also cited Christenbury's interest in the
environment.  
     "Years before being a 'green consumer' was in vogue, Joyce
was instrumental in developing a guide to homemade household
cleaning products," she said.
     Christenbury is also involved in educating county agents and
the public about ways to reduce solid waste.
     Fran Wolak, a Clemson Extension agricultural engineer, said 
Christenbury has been "a tremendous force in the Master Waste 
Educator program since its inception in 1992."  He praised her 
dedication to interdisciplinary programming.
     "She works easily with engineers, entomologists,
horticulturists and county agents," he said.
     Porter said agent training and program support are two of 
Christenbury's strengths. She has conducted more than 55 
in-service trainings for Extension personnel and five for
non-Extension clients. She has authored at least 68 Extension
publications, coauthored 27 others and revised 12 more.
     "Joyce never looks for personal gain. She is always looking
for ways county agents and the people of South Carolina can
benefit from her programs," said Leslee Spivey, Clemson Extension
agent in Williamsburg County.
     Christenbury has been active in and served in leadership
positions in many professional associations, including: the
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, the
Association of Home Equipment Educators, the S.C. Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences, the Extension Specialists
Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Delta Kappa Gamma International
and Gamma Sigma Delta.
     She has also been active in her community with Girl Scouts,
Boy Scouts, 4-H, Good Neighbor Club, Helping Hands, Crisis Line
and her church. 
                              END