UI Natural Resources College Awards Outstanding Faculty, Staff, Students
Monday, June 3 2002
June 3, 2002^MOSCOW– The College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho presented its outstanding faculty and staff with end-of-academic-year awards. They include:^PORTLAND, ORE./MOSCOW ^Keith C. Russell, assistant research professor, Resource Recreation and Tourism, received the Outstanding Teaching Award, for an instructor who is approachable, prepared for class, open-minded, puts students first, and participates in student organizations.^HOWELL, MICH./MOSCOW^John D. Marshall, professor, Forest Resources, received the Outstanding Research Award, for a person or team who in the last two years has presented research results that demonstrate excellence in conception, design, execution, and reporting. ^ACCOMAC, VA/POTLATCH^Richard L. Folk, assistant professor, Forest Products, won the Outstanding Continuing Education and Outreach Award for full-time faculty, students, or staff for presenting outstanding educational events during the two previous years that influence a significant number of people, address problems via cooperation with diverse groups.^AUSTIN, TEXAS/MOSCOW^Charles W. McKetta, associate professor, Forest Resources, also received this award.^CHESHIRE, CONN./MOSCOW^David H. Bennett, professor, Fish and Wildlife Resources, won the Outstanding Advisor Award, for approachability, preparedness, putting students' needs first, being open minded and participating in student organizations. ^SPOKANE, WASH./MOSCOW^Lynaire Banks, academic advisor and transfer specialist, CNR dean's office, received the CNR Outstanding Staff Award, for a staff member who is approachable, willing to help, and participates in student activities.^LEWISTON/MOSCOW^Jan Pitkin, administrative assistant, Forest Products, received a UI Outstanding Employee Award in the secretarial/clerical category.^BOULDER, COLO./MOSCOW^Diane R. Holick, CNR employment recruitment and retention coordinator, received a UI Outstanding Employee Award in the non faculty exempt category.^Outstanding Senior Awards are given from each department to undergraduate seniors for outstanding academic achievement and service to the department and community.^ATASCADERO, CALIF.^Tad Kisaka is the Outstanding Senior in the Department of Fishery Resources and the Outstanding Senior for the College of Natural Resources. He was a Morris K. Udall Scholar in 2001 and has been active in the student chapter of the American Fisheries Society, the Aquaculture Club, the Student Affairs Council, and the UI club baseball team. He co-founded CNR’s Best Possible Committee. He has completed an internship in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and has studied abroad in Australia. He gave the commencement address at the May 2002 CNR commencement. ^POWELL, WYO.^Benjamin LaFrentz is the Outstanding Graduate Student in The Department of Fishery Resources. He earned the 2001-02 UI Alumni Award for Excellence and is a member of the American Fisheries Society and the World Aquaculture Society. He served as co-president of the Palouse Unit American Fisheries Society and was secretary of the Aquaculture club this year.^MCCALL^Briana Keafer is the Outstanding Senior Student in the Department of Forest Resources. She earned the 2000 UI Alumni Award for Excellence and has been on the dean's list since 1997. She was an Udall Scholar in 1999, received Honorable Mention in 2001, earned several scholarships, and was named UI Outstanding Freshman (1998); Sophomore (1998); and Junior (2000). She is a member of the American Fisheries Society, Campus Christian Crusade for Christ, Student Affairs Committee, the UI Jazz Choir, the UI Water Polo Club, the Golden Key National Honors Society, and served on the Middle Snake River Team for the Columbia Basin Initiative. She intends to pursue her master's and doctoral degrees.^LARAMIE, WYO.^Sarah Heide is the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management. She earned the Joseph F. Pechanec Scholarship in 2001 and is a member of the Society for Range Management. She is a fire ecologist for the Bureau of Land Management and attended UI through the Student Career Experience Program. She worked as a fuels technician for the BLM during summer sessions at UI and was employed as a teaching assistant through the fall and spring semesters. After graduation, she will return to her BLM job in the Upper Snake River District in Pocatello.^MIYAZAKI, Japan/Moscow^Akihiro Koyama is the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Forest Resources. He has been researching nutrients found in salmon carcasses after spawning and is starting a Ph.D. program this summer in forest resources. He earned a $450 travel award from the American Fisheries Society for presenting his research at the Salmon Nutrient conference in Eugene, Ore. in 2001.^ST. MARIES^Mariah Dunham is the Outstanding Senior in the Department of Resource Recreation and Tourism. She received the Gonzaga School of Law Scholarship this year. She made the Dean's List from 1999-2001, was an Alumni Award of Excellence nominee, and received the following scholarships and awards: Roger L. Guernsey Forestry Scholarship, Earl H. and Christine Kidder Scholarship; Lewis-Clark State College Presidential Scholarship; President's Education Award Program for Outstanding Achievement; UI President's Award for Educational Excellence, and Honorable Mention for the UI Annual Art Exhibition. She is a member of several community service groups as well as the Mortar Board Senior National Honors Society and the Xi Sigma Phi Natural Resources Honor Society.^BAKER CITY, ORE.^Amanda Helmer is the Outstanding Senior in the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management. She has received the William and Margaret Mason Scholarship and the Western Undergraduate exchange Scholarship. This year she won first place in the public speaking contest and first place for the undergraduate range management exam team at the national Society for Range Management meeting held in Omaha, Neb. An ROTC graduate, she was appointed cadet wing commander at UI and WSU, supervising 170 people. She also received the Blue Chip Award, appointing her to the Air Force Institute of Technology for a master's degree. ^Other award winners included:^PHILOMATH, ORE.^Staci Phelps is the Outstanding Senior in the Department of Forest Products. She was an active member of the Forest Products Club and served as club president this past year. During her leadership, the club brought guest speakers from the forest products industry to the UI, built park benches for Whitman County Parks and Recreation and Pullman Parks and Recreation, and raised funds for members to attend a professional meeting in Oregon. She was also nominated for the UI Alumni Award for Excellence.^VANCOUVER, WASH.^Samantha Cooney is the Outstanding Senior in the Departments of Wildlife Resources and Natural Resources Ecology and Conservation Biology. She was an active member of The Wildlife Society and was president of the NRECB club. She also competed for the UI track team for three years.^COEUR D'ALENE^Craig Miller is the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Wildlife Resources. He has presented his research on populations genetics, evolution, and applied management sciences at six different professional meetings at national and international levels. He gave three invited talks for grizzly bear managers and has published an article in Genetics magazine. Miller also was instrumental in obtaining a $166,000 research grant from the National Science Foundation.^BOISE^Roger Sathre is the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Forest Products. He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, Africa, from 1987 to 1989. He worked with humanitarian relief organizations in Mozambique, Angola, and Sudan from 1990 to 2000. His research on improving the performance of hardwood journal bearings may be potentially useful for technology applications in developing countries. He plans to continue at UI for a second master's degree in forest ecology. ^EAST LANSING, MICH./BOISE^Dennis Becker is the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Resource Recreation and Tourism and the Outstanding Graduate Student in the College of Natural Resources. He served as a teaching assistant for four years in RRT and was the lead facilitator for RRT's graduate research seminar for two years. Because of his success as a teaching assistant, he was asked to instruct an upper division RRT course for three consecutive years. He worked for several years as a ranger with the National Park Service. He also worked as a research assistant on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lower Snake Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report that included the controversial alternative of breaching dams on the Snake River. He participated in many teaching skills workshops, seminars, and field trips and is a sought-after guest speaker. His awards in include: 1989-99 college-wide graduate student representative elect to UI Executive Council in CNR, the 2000 UI Graduate Association's Excellence in Teaching Award, and a 2001 National Dissertation Fellowship Award from the Resources for the Future organization.^CONTACT: Sue McMurray, CNR Communications, (208) 885-6673, suem@uidaho.edu^-30-^sm/5/28/02/CNR^
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.