March 02, 2010
Agriculture college hands out honors at banquet
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Agricultural Sciences honored two Illinois Farm Bureau executives for noteworthy support of agriculture as well as two of its own during its annual banquet held Friday, Feb. 26, at the University’s Student Center. The college also paid tribute to its student all-stars and faculty and staff standouts. All honorees received commemorative plaques.
IFB President Philip Nelson of Seneca and Vice President Richard Guebert Jr. of Ellis Grove share the college’s Service to Industry award. Nelson, who has held leadership positions with the American Soybean Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the LaSalle County Farm Bureau, also served on two USDA advisory committees. Guebert, an alumnus of the college, led the Randolph County Farm Bureau and has served as a delegate on state trade missions to Cuba, India and Poland. As part of their Farm Bureau duties, the pair also plays key roles in the bureau’s fund-raising association as well as in companies that make up COUNTRY Financial.
The college recognized Carterville resident Jacob “Jake” Rendlemen, retired teacher and member of the Illinois Taxpayers Action Board, Illinois Community College Board and trustee for John A. Logan College, as its outstanding alumnus. Rendleman, a two-degree graduate of SIUC, began teaching at Herrin Junior High School in 1967, retiring in 1994.
It named Carterville resident Jon E. Schoonover, assistant professor of forestry and a two-degree graduate of the college, as its outstanding young alumnus. A college faculty member since 2006, he is at work on 13 research projects worth more than $3 million in grant funds. He has written or served as co-author of 16 peer-reviewed papers, has made 45 presentations at professional meetings and is active in community service and outreach.
Schoonover, who teaches watershed management, forest soils, tree identification, agroforestry systems and wildland hydrology, also picked up the Elkins Excellence in Education Award for exceeding expectations both in and out of the classroom.
Kristen L. Woods, an agribusiness economics major from Newton, and Ashlee E. Lambrich, an agricultural systems major from Geff, were named outstanding senior and senior runner-up respectively, while Rhonda N. Steidley, a plant and soil science major from Hettick, and Julianna K. Wessels, an animal science major from O’Fallon, Mo., were outstanding junior and runner-up. The selection committee designated winners based on grade-point average, extra-curricular activities, non-campus leadership roles, previous honors and work-related experience.
Sigma Alpha, a social and professional sorority, garnered recognition as the college’s outstanding club, with MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, National Resources and Related Sciences) named runner-up. The committee based its selection on member turnout at club meetings and projects, participation in college, campus and community activities, attendance at area, regional and national meetings, and recruitment efforts.
The college also cited Patti L. Cludray of Creal Springs as outstanding adviser for developing the kinds of relationships with students that allow her to assist with problems beyond their schoolwork.
Student stars -- Associate Dean
Todd A. Winters of Southern
Illinois University Carbondale's
College of Agricultural Sciences
stands with the winners of the
outstanding senior and junior
student awards (from left)
Kristen L. Woods of Newton,
Ashlee E. Lambrich of Geff,
Julianna K. Wessels of
O'Fallon, Mo., and Rhonda N.
Steidley of Hettick after the
college's annual banquet, helf
Feb. 26. (Photo by Steve Buhman)
Download Photo Here
A boon to ag -- Farm Bureau
executives (center, left to
right) Richard Guebert Jr.
of Ellis Groves and Philip
Nelson of Seneca show plaques
they received for their service
to agriculture from Southern
Illinois University Carbondale's
College of Agricultural Sciences
during the college's annual
banquet Feb. 26. Associate Dean
Todd A. Winters (left) and
Emeritus Dean Gary L. Minish
hold photos that will go on
display at the college.
(Photo by Steve Buhman)
Download Photo Here
Accomplished -- Associate Dean
Todd A. Winters (left)
congratulates Jacob "Jake"
Rendleman of Carterville as
the Southern Illinois
University Carbondale College
of Agricultural Sciences
outstanding alumnus. Rendleman
received a commemorative plaque
at the college's annual awards
banquet Feb. 26. (Photo by
Steve Buhman) Download
Photo Here
Up and coming -- Carterville
resident Jon E. Schoonover
(center) shows the
commemorative plaque he
received from the Southern
Illinois University
Carbondale College of
Agricultural Sciences as
its outstanding young
alumnus. Alan Edmondson
(left), president of the
college alumni society's
board of governors, and
Associate Dean Todd A.
Winters (right) presented
the award to him Feb. 26
at the college's awards
banquet. (Photo by Steve
Buhman Download Photo
Here