Spring 2009 News

Spring 2009 Awards Banquet--A Major Success!!
The LSU chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta presented three faculty awards of merit and named 28 faculty members to the 2009 Teacher Merit Honor Roll at their annual recognition and awards banquet on April 23. (A photo gallery of the event is also availble here.)

Dr. Michael Martin, Chancellor, Louisiana State University, A&M Campus, was the keynote speaker for the awards banquet.

Kurt Guidry, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, received the Extension Award of Merit, Zhijun Liu, Professor, School of Renewable Natural Resources, received the Research Award of Merit, and Richard Bengtson, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, received the Teaching Award of Merit.

Those named to the Teacher Merit Honor Roll were – Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness-Jeffrey Gillespie and Steven Henning; School of Animal Sciences-Bruce Jenny and Cathleen Williams; Biological and Agricultural Engineering-Richard Bengtson, Anna Dugas, Todd Monroe, Keith Morris, Cristina Sabliov and Daniel Thomas; Food Science-Joan King and Witoon Prinyawiwatkul; School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development-Curtis Friedel; School of Renewable Natural Resources-Michael Chamberlain, Cornelis de Hoop, William Kelso, Allen Rutherford and Charles Shilling.

Fei-Fei Han, Food Science was named Outstanding Ph.D. student and Melissa Fries, School of Renewable Natural Resources was named Outstanding Masters student. In addition, 10 others were named to the Graduate Student Merit Honor Roll: Arun Adhikari (Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness); Karen Garcia, Reshani Nisansala Senevirathne and Pamarin Waimaleongora-Ek (Food Science); Bridgette Boe O’Connor, Mark Carriere and Kenneth Kungu (School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development); Priyan Perera, Rangika Perera and Yanjun Xu (School of Renewable Natural Resources).

Undergraduates receiving awards were: Outstanding Seniors-Cade Andrew LeJeune (School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development) and Ian Stone (School of Renewable Natural Resources); Outstanding Junior-Elise Madara (School of Animal Sciences); Gamma Sigma Delta-LSU Chapter Freshman-Scholarship-Jessica Lynn Seaman (School of Human Ecology). Sophomore scholarship awards of merit were also presented to 39 students.

Four awards of distinction were awarded this year. Distinguished Alumni Award-Alvin Schupp, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Retired; Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award-Ed Twidwell, School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences; International Award for Distinguished Achievements in Agriculture-Lakshman Velupillai, Associate Vice Chancellor, International Programs, LSU; and Special Award of Contribution to Gamma Sigma Delta, LSU Chapter-Mary Bowen, School of Renewable Natural Resources.

Fall 2008 News

Fall 2008 Initiation Reception
Reservations are being accepted for the Fall Initiation Reception. It will be held on Thursday, November 20th, at 4:30 pm at the LSU Mini Farm. Come, bring a guest, and help us to welcome our new Initiates! Go to the Reservations page, to save your spot for the event.

Fall 2008 Lecture Series
Dr. Kelsey Short, Director of Agriculture, Forest and Food Technology Cluster Development, Louisiana Economic Development, will deliver a lecture titled: ""Renewable Energy and Economic Development." This installment of the Gamma Sigma Delta Lecture Series will be held on November 7th, 3:00 pm, in Room 142, School of Renewable Natural Resources Bldg, on the LSU campus. Make plans to attend.

Fall Meeting Scheduled
The Fall Members Business Meeting of the LSU Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta is scheduled for Friday, September 26th, 11:30-1:30, in the Acadian Room of the LSU Union. Seating is limited to 35 participants, so please RSVP by Wednesday, September 24th if you plan to attend.

Spring 2008 News

Chapter Receives Awards
28 July 2008:   The LSU Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Honor Society for Agriculture, has been selected as the 2008 Outstanding International Chapter. The Chapter was also selected for the 2007 New Activity Award. This is the 12th time the LSU Chapter has been selected as the Outstanding Chapter. The awards will be presented at the fall initiation reception by Dr. Steve Henning, President of the International Executive Committee.

Spring 2008 Awards Banquet
The Gamma Sigma Delta Chapter at LSU held its Spring Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 11th, at the Magnolia Room of the LSU Union. The Keynote speaker was Dr. Michael Strain, Commissioner of Agriculture and Foresty for the State of Louisiana.

Photos of the Banquet and many of the Award Recipients are available HERE. A summary of all the Awards also appears on the Activities page

A detailed account of the program with all of the Faculty and Student award winners can be viewed here; a detailed bios of the honored guests and Faculty award recipients can be viewed here.

Gamma Sigma Delta - LSU Chapter Elects New Officers
At the Gamma Sigma Delta, LSU Chapter Spring Business Meeting on March 11, the following were elected to serve as officers for 2008-2009. President: Richard Vlosky, Professor, School of Renewable Natural Resources, President-Elect: Cathy Williams, Professor, Department of Food Science, Secretary: Krisanna Machtmes, Assistant Professor, School of Human Resource Education, Historian: Robert J. “Bobby” Soileau, Director of the Ag Leadership Development Program for the LSU AgCenter, and Treasurer: Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Professor in the Department of Food Science.

Fall 2007 News

New Website
This has been a very busy semester for Gamma Sigma Delta. We have launched a new website, developed a new tabletop display, and have focused on revitalizing our membership numbers. Our new website (http://www.gsd.lsu.edu) enables our members to keep up with chapter news and events, and allows members to pay online for membership fees.

The website was developed to promote transition between chapter presidents, and provides efficient transfer of information of pertinence to transitioning chapter presidents. All committee members and associated duties are available on the website, along with officer responsibilities.

New Members More than Doubles Membership
We had 57 individuals accept our invitation to join Gamma Sigma Delta this fall, and they were initiated and welcomed at the Fall Reception on December 3rd at the Nelson Memorial Building. This is one of the largest groups of initiates in several years. Dean Kenneth Koonce was the keynote speaker.

Lecture Series
Dr. Ravussin Presents at Gamma Sigma Delta Lecture Series

As part of the Gamma Sigma Delta Lecture Series, Dr. Eric Ravussin, Chief, Division of Health and Performance Enhancement, Douglas L. Gordon Chair in Diabetes and Metabolism, and Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) recently spoke about his current research on caloric restriction, resveratrol, and Baton Rouge area residents 89-years-old or older, to shed some light on the mysteries of long-life. His discussion probed questions such as: What are the secrets to a long, healthy life? Is the secret as simple as eating less? What about the beneficial properties of red wine? How do people live to be nonagenarians (90 year olds) or centenarians (100 year olds)? Dr. Ravussin’s lecture was held in the School of Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University to a standing room only audience. Ms. Vicky Tiller and Dr. Denese Ashbaugh Vlosky with Gamma Sigma Delta, coordinated the event. A second Gamma Sigma Delta‐sponsored lecture will take place in Spring 2008.

Graduating Graduate Student Fall Reception
A reception to recognize graduating Gamma Sigma Delta graduate student members will take place in Room 212 Efferson Hall on Friday December 14. Thanks to the Committee Chair, Frankie Gould for planning this event. Receptions will also take place for Spring and Summer 2008 graduates.

Spring Banquet
Mark your calendars: The Gamma Sigma Delta Spring Banquet will be held on April 10th in the Magnolia Room at the Union.

LSU Chapter Receives 2007 Gold Chapter
Our fall business meeting was held on September 28th, where Dr. Vlosky (Chapter President) announced that our chapter had been selected as a 2007 Gold Chapter. This prestigious award recognizes and honors the activities and accomplishments of the Louisiana Chapter during the 2006‐2007 academic year. Matters of the Chapter budget, membership numbers, and fall lecture series were also discussed during this meeting.