Sources: Jaimie Smidt, 785-532-5412, jlsmidt@k-state.edu;
and Kevin Donnelly, 785-532-6151, kjd@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Shelby Haag, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Friday, Jan. 18, 2008
OUTSTANDING K-STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE STUDENT AND FACULTY HONORED
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's College of Agriculture Student Council has selected the college's latest student of the month and has recognized two faculty members for their work during the fall 2007 semester.
Scott Dooley, senior in agronomy, Jewell, is the college's student of the month for December 2007. Dooley earned the award based on the honors he has received, his resume, his activities, grade point average and a short essay. Students are nominated for the monthly award by a College of Agriculture club in which they are an active member. Applications are judged by a panel of student leaders, as well as professors and advisers from the college.
Dooley receives a cash award from Kansas Farm Bureau as part of the honor.
At K-State, Dooley has been a member of the Wheat State Agronomy Club, K-State Soils Judging Team and Alpha Zeta, an agriculture honorary. He said his time spent with the Wheat State Agronomy Club has been his most rewarding college experience.
"Through the club I have had countless opportunities to step up and provide leadership, meet new friends and travel around the country," Dooley said. "I firmly believe that this experience has made me a better person overall and prepared me for the rest of my life better than any class ever could."
Rodney Jones, an associate professor of agricultural economics, has been selected as a faculty member of the semester. Jones teaches farm and ranch management and agricultural finance; he will teach principles of agricultural economics in the spring semester. He also formally advises two graduate students and serves on graduate committees. Informally, he provides advice and assistance to students throughout the College of Agriculture, particularly those who are contemplating major career choices, such as returning to the family farm.
Jones conducts research in livestock production economics, general farm management, business planning and family business transitions. He also develops and delivers outreach education and materials for the agricultural industry through his work with K-State Research and Extension.
Also honored for his work during the fall 2007 semester was Marcus Ashlock, assistant professor of communications. Ashlock teaches agricultural business communications, crisis communications, Web 2.0 and the diffusion of innovation, and the senior capstone in agricultural communications.
Ashlock advises 21 students and serves as an adviser for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow student group and K-State's chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity. He also is a member of the graduate faculty of the College of Agriculture and the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications in the College of Arts and Sciences. His research includes risk and crisis communication studies regarding food, agriculture and the environment. In addition, he is a research member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Center for Food Protection and Defense.