UK MANRRS Chapter Receives National Acclaim

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 11, 2014) – At the recent 29th annual MANRRS conference, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s chapter received many awards and honors.

MANRRS stands for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

The UK chapter was named National Chapter of the Year at the Birmingham, Ala. event for the second consecutive year. This is the first time a school has received back-to-back chapter of the year recognitions. This recognition is based on a written report and an oral presentation focusing on membership, leadership development, promotion of the national society, community service, and activities and events conducted. The UK chapter also won the Region 3 Chapter of the Year for the third consecutive year.

“We received this honor over 75 chapters in 38 states,” said Quentin Tyler, UK assistant dean and director of the college’s Office of Diversity. “This award is a direct reflection of the commitment to the development of our students in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the total support provided by our administration, faculty and staff, 4-H agents, and groups such as the Ag and HES Alumni Association and Farm Credit Mid-America. Moving forward, students are aware that they can attend our college and receive the support they need to reach their goals and dreams.”

In addition to the Chapter of the Year recognitions, Tyler was elected as the National MANRRS president-elect, a three-year term beginning in May.

Tyler said, of the 57 UKAg representatives attending the national conference, 36 were college students and 14 were Jr. MANRRS students. The rest included the academic coordinator in Agricultural Economics, the director of program and staff development for the college, one representative from the Department of Forestry, and four Cooperative Extension agents.

Other honors include:

•           Marcus Tyler Jr. -- Jr. MANRRS National John Deere Scholarship recipient; MANRRS Undergraduate Essay 2nd Place

•           Stephanie Cabrea -- Jefferson County 4-H Jr. MANRRS, third place public speaking. Her 4-H agents are Chanda Hall and Ashley Holt.

•           Anna Stacia Haley -- Christian County 4H Jr. MANRRS, first place impromptu speaking and first place public speaking. Her 4-H agent is Antomia Farrell.

•           Susanna Croney -- Christian County 4-H Jr. MANRRS, second place public speaking. Farrell is her 4-H agent as well.

•           Spencer Tribble – agricultural economics graduate student, one of three students in the country awarded a John Deere MANRRS Internship.

Several students were nominated and elected to the following national officer positions for 2014-2015:

•           Tribble  -- Graduate Region 5 vice president

•           Kelly Moore -- Undergraduate Region 2 vice president, Community and Leadership Development junior.

•           Jessi Ghezi -- Graduate Region 6 vice president, doctoral candidate in Plant and Soil Sciences.

•           Marquel Lett -- Undergraduate president, Environmental Sciences junior