Monthly Archives: August 2011

Tony Wolf (center), professor of horticulture and director of the Alson H. Smith Jr. AREC, receives the 2011 Swiger Land-Grant Award from Dean Emeritus Andy Swiger, (left) and Alan Grant, dean.

Ruth Wallace, associate Extension agent-4-H, Buckingham County; Jennifer Bowen, associate Extension agent-4-H, Prince Edward County; Doug Harpole, associate Extension agent-4-H, Fauquier County; and Avery Born, Northern 4-H Center, received VAE4-HA mini-grants for program development. Ruth and Jennifer will work on a 4-H canning process, while Doug and Avery will work on a soil science program.

Audrey McElroy, animal and poultry sciences, received the NOVUS International Teaching Award from the Poultry Science Association. This award is given in recognition of the fact that excellence in teaching is basic to the future welfare of the poultry industry. It is given to a member who, over several years, has demonstrated outstanding success as a teacher.

Chasity Cox, animal and poultry sciences, received the Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award from the Poultry Science Association. The award is given to a student for the presentation and publication as senior author of an outstanding research manuscript in Poultry Science.

Rami A. Dalloul, animal and poultry sciences, received the Hy-Line International Research Award from the Poultry Science Association. This award is given to a member who published outstanding research in poultry science as the sole or senior author.

Matthew Eick, crop and soil environmental sciences, is a recipient of this year’s Division of Undergraduate Education Appreciative Advising Travel Grant. The grant provides funds to assist faculty, professional staff, and staff advisors who primarily serve undergraduate students. Eick is one of four Virginia Tech representatives who will participate in the First Annual Appreciative Advising Institute in Las Vegas this summer.

Joe Hunnings, CALS administration, was recently honored as one of the first four national recipients of eXtension’s Be Grow Create Outstanding Institutional Team Member Award. The award recognizes responsiveness and engagement with their institution on behalf of eXtension, institutional team development and sustainability, and eXtension advocacy. The awards were presented June 29 at the eXtension National CoP Workshop in Louisville, Ky.

James "Jim' Warren

James R. Warren, Alson H. Smith Jr. AREC, is the August Employee of the Month. Jim, as his colleagues know him, has worked as the farm manager for more than 22 years, held and developing many new skills along the way. His primary job responsibilities include maintenance of all physical facilities, including more than 20 farm and road vehicles, light construction needs, farm maintenance (mowing, herbiciding, cultivation, etc.) and building mechanical maintenance. Jim is also one of two safety officers at the AREC and is the designated point person for calling AREC personnel in the event of authorized closures due to inclement weather.

His core job responsibilities are always performed in a timely and effective manner, and the appearance of the AREC farm and grounds positively reflect the university and are a testament to his attention to detail. Where James truly shines, however, is his knowledge of mechanical systems, the specific systems used at the Winchester AREC, and his ability to maintain and perform routine repairs on equipment and mechanical systems. In this regard, Jim has routinely saved the AREC $10,000 to $15,000 in repairs and light construction per year by bringing his knowledge, skills, and work ethic to bear on the needs and challenges of the AREC.

Jim Warren personifies the Ut Prosim motto of Virginia Tech. His combination of work ethic, attention to detail, and mechanical knowledge and skills underpins the research and Extension efforts that our faculty and staff perform.

Walter Hartman, center, receives the Employee of the Month Award from Dean Alan Grant, left, and Food Science & Technology Department Head Joe Marcy.

Walter Hartman, food science and technology, was the July Employee of the Month. Walter has been responsible for the lab portion of the dairy processing class and works closely with the food science Dairy Judging Team, including making the samples they evaluate, training the team on how to evaluate dairy products, and transporting students to the contests and back to Virginia Tech — even on nights and weekends. He has served as an invited judge for the World Championship Cheese Contest (2006) and twice at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest (2007, 2009).

Walter is also a valuable Extension resource for the Virginia dairy industry. If dairies have problems with their products, they can send samples to Walter for microbiological testing, sensory analysis, etc. If there is a problem at a dairy plant, Walter will visit to assess the situation and try to find the source of contamination or just give advice on how to make processing run more smoothly. It is because of Walter’s professionalism that this program has been successful and dairies feel comfortable coming to him for help.

Walter’s efforts to improve morale and promote food science extend beyond the campus borders. He has coordinated Virginia Tech’s participation in the Capitol Hill ice cream party for more than 20 years.

He also assists graduate students and professors with their research. His assistance with the instructional activities in several laboratory classes (food processing, dairy products sensory evaluation, food microbiology) has been critical to the success of the laboratory portion of the teaching program in the department and to the students’ development.

In addition to helping students with their research and working closely with the Dairy Judging Team, Walter is committed to his own professional development and to that of co-workers. Walter received recognition in 2008 for his commitment and continuing efforts as a committee member on the Human Resource Restructuring Employee Advisory Committee. In 2011, he was awarded a certificate from the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals for having successfully completed the food safety manager certification examination.