March 07, 2005
Agriculture College holds annual banquet
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale's College of Agricultural Sciences celebrated its 50th anniversary Friday, Feb. 25, during its annual awards banquet.
The college's first dean, Wendell E. Keepper, now 94, wrote the keynote speech, which his daughter, Holly K. Immel, delivered.
"He was there, he just didn't want to be up on the stage," said Assistant Dean Julia A. Wetstein, who organized the event.
"In fact, all of our former deans except for Dr. (James A.) Tweedy were there along with 59 members of our first graduating class, and everybody who attended this year received a commemorative coin that the students minted."
As is traditional, the banquet also served to recognize the college's outstanding alumni, top students, club, faculty and staff as well as those who support the agricultural industry in notable ways. All received commemorative plaques.
Out-of-town honorees were Outstanding Young Alumna Heidi L. Rao of Houston, Texas, and Outstanding Alumnus Stephen Scates of Shawneetown. The Maschhoffs Inc., a Carlyle firm that ranks as the country's third largest independent swine producer, won the Service to Agriculture award.
Student winners were Jamie L. Bartosik of Prairie du Rocher, Drew M. DeRiemacker of Atkinson, John R. Klemm of Waynesville and Myla G. Munro of Gilman.
• Bartosik, a plant, soil and agricultural systems major specializing in agriculture information, was runner-up for the outstanding senior award. She is president of the Agricultural
Education Club, serves as a college agbassador and as social chair on the Agricultural Student Advisory Council, and belongs to the student chapter of Alpha Zeta, an agriculture fraternity. Bartosik is the daughter of Jack L. and Sharon E. Bartosik (1702 McBride Road).
• DeRiemacker, a plant, soil and agricultural systems major specializing in agriculture information, was named outstanding junior. He serves as a college agbassador, reporter for the Agricultural Education Club and secretary of the Agricultural Systems Technology Club. He is a member of Collegiate FFA and belongs to the student chapter of Alpha Zeta, an agriculture fraternity. DeRiemacker is the son of Raymond R. DeRiemacker (404 N. Washington).
• Klemm, a plant, soil and agricultural systems major specializing in agricultural systems, was named outstanding senior. He serves as vice president of the Block and Bridle club and belongs to the Agribusiness Economics Club, the rodeo team, Farm Bureau Young Leaders and the student chapter of Alpha Zeta, an agriculture fraternity. He is the son of Robert E. and Patricia J. Klemm (R. R. 1).
• Munro, an animal science major, was runner-up for the outstanding junior award. She serves as president of Sigma Alpha, an agricultural sorority, as secretary of the Agricultural Student Advisory Council and belongs to the Block and Bridle club. She is the daughter of Larry L. and Pamela S. Munro (1724 N. 1300 E. Road).
The college also cited tenure-track faculty teaching award winner Jeffrey R. Beaulieu of agribusiness economics; term faculty teaching award winner Amy C. Boren of plant, soil and agricultural systems; Elkins Award winner Kim S. Harris of agribusiness economics; educational support winner Lisa M. Hartline of plant, soil and agricultural systems; faculty service award winner Karen L. Jones; and faculty research award winner Bryan G. Young of plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Celebrating faculty and undergraduate excellence is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.