UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Sixty-four of the state's outstanding high school students are participating in the 2001 Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences at Penn State's University Park Campus. And with the five weeks of research and campus recreation comes another annual tradition: raised eyebrows and scrambled stereotypes.

The prestigious program assembles some of the state's top high school juniors and seniors for a challenging introduction to innovative research and career opportunities in such areas as food sciences, animal and plant sciences, natural resources and the environment, and agricultural engineering. Marianne Fivek, university director of the school and assistant professor of agricultural and extension education, explains that the range and rigor of the agricultural sciences can be surprising to a few participants and visitors, who might come expecting something a little more "bucolic."

"We always win some over," she says. "The school opens up a lot of people's eyes to some aspect of agriculture that could be a career for them. Even if they are familiar with farming, they often don't realize that agriculture includes food science, forestry and wildlife, agricultural economics, agribusiness or genomic research."

The students conduct research projects with faculty using College of Agricultural Sciences facilities, including advanced libraries and laboratories. In recruiting the state's top students, Fivek explains, agriculture must compete with other careers for students' interests. She enjoys seeing the delight of students discovering unexpected opportunities.

"This is an ambitious group of young people, and it's great to offer them ventures that help them test their abilities," she says. "They demonstrate the academic potential that Pennsylvania is looking to develop, and they confirm the state leadership's foresight in founding and supporting the Governor's School. Our state's position as an agricultural leader can only be maintained by attracting top young talent to the field, and this group is an excellent example of what our state has to offer."

Since opening in 1986, more than 960 students have attended the Governor's School. The majority of attendees go on to college, and many have chosen to attend Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Between 70 and 100 Penn State faculty and staff support the program each year, teaching such subjects as veterinary science, natural resource management and engineering.

The students take courses and electives in many areas and select an independent research project. Field trips to agricultural businesses and agencies give students hands-on experience working in laboratories, greenhouses and farms. Activities this year include visits to the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, Longwood Botanical Gardens, Hershey Foods and Shaver's Creek Environmental Center.

"The field trips will be great this year," said Ketja Woo, assistant director of the school. "Hershey Foods is a good example of a Pennsylvania partner that goes to great lengths to give the students a truly interactive experience. The students will participate in the candy-making process and have the opportunity to speak with a number of scientists and professionals."

Participants will not be graded or ranked, but will receive special state certificates to recognize their accomplishments. The school is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the state's intermediate units and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Pennsylvania Governor's Schools also are offered in the arts, sciences, health care, education, international studies and information technology and global entrepreneurism.

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EDITORS: List of participants follows release. Photos of participants available upon request. For more information, call Marianne Fivek at 814-865-7521.

Contacts:

Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax

EDITORS: Following is a list of Pennsylvania Governor's School in Agricultural Sciences participants by county, including hometown and high school:

Allegheny County:

Andrea Cutruzzula, Pittsburgh, Pa., Ellis High School

Daniel Hinnebusch, Pittsburgh, Pa., Upper St. Clair High School

Joseph Kelley III, Sewickley, Pa., Quaker Valley High School

Gaelyn Neely, Pittsburgh, Pa., Avonworth High School

Henry Watson, Pittsburgh, Pa., North Hills High School

Armstrong:

Misty Claypoole, Worthington, Pa., Kittanning High School

Berks:

Denise Gardner, Robesonia, Pa., Conrad Weiser High School

Katelyn Lamm, Wernersville, Pa., Conrad Weiser High School

Bradford:

Rebecca Knapp, Towanda, Pa., Athens High School

Bucks:

AnnaMarie Kinder, Bensalem, Pa., Conwell Egan High School

Butler:

Ashley Getsay, Harmony, Pa., Seneca Valley High School

Adam Mistick, Cranberry Township, Pa., Central Catholic High School

Cambria:

Lindsey Harteis, Ebensburg, Pa., Central Cambria High School

Carbon:

Justin Cunfer, Lehighton, Pa., Lehighton High School

Centre:

Brosi Bradley, Port Matilda, Pa., Bald Eagle High School

Siobhan Garner, Bellefonte, Pa., Bald Eagle High School

Chester:

Elizabeth Roy, Malvern, Pa., Great Valley High School

Kyle White, Malvern, Pa., Conestoga High School

Clarion:

Joshua Kline, Knox, Pa., Keystone High School

Julia McDaniel, New Bethlehem, Pa., Redbank Valley High School

Columbia:

Corey Bartholomew, Millville, Pa., Central Columbia High School

Cumberland:

Regina Lehman, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Cumberland Valley High School

Gregory Sim, Camp Hill, Pa., Camp Hill High School

Dauphin:

Renee Killins, Harrisburg, Pa., Central Dauphin High School

Oliver Liao, Hershey, Pa., Hershey High School

Delaware:

Thomas Gilronan, Drexel Hill, Pa., Cardinal O'Hara High School

Arthur Lo, Darby, Pa., Springfield High School

Elk:

Brittany Bricen, Weedville, Pa., St. Mary's High School

Erie:

Alison Phillips, Erie, Pa., Villa Maria High School

Fayette:

Joshua Poole, Connellsville, Pa., Connellsville High School

Fulton:

Christopher Howard, Warfordsburg, Pa., Southern Fulton High School

Scott Mosemann, Warfordsburg, Pa., Southern Fulton High School

Lancaster:

Derick Bollinger, Manheim, Pa., Manheim Central High School

R. Morgan Forney, Columbia, Pa., Hempfield High School

Andrew Herr, Millersville, Pa., Penn Manor High School

Jill Pokorney, Lancaster, Pa., Lancaster Country Day High School

Philip Shirk, Conestoga, Pa., Lancaster Mennonite High School

Lebanon:

Erin Heisey, Annville, Pa., Annville-Cleona High School

Luzerne:

James Gibson, Wapwallopen, Pa., Columbia Montour High School

Eugene LaBuz, Drums, Pa., Hazleton High School

Monroe:

Erin Fisher, Stroudsburg, Pa., Stroudsburg High School

Montgomery:

Justin Chou, Ambler, Pa., Wissahickon High School

Courtney Dixon, Chester Springs, Pa., The Hill School

James Michael, Pottstown, Pa., Owen J. Roberts High School

Jennifer Sundermier, Gilbertsville, Pa., Boyertown Area Senior High School

Sihai Zhao, Wynnewood, Pa., Lower Merion High School

Montour:

Megan Broda, Danville, Pa., Danville High School

Northampton:

Amber Januszewski, Northampton, Pa., Northampton High School

Lauren Nelson, Pen Argyl, Pa., Bangor High School

Philadelphia:

Thomas Oliver, Philadelphia, Pa., Washington High School

Ashley Suarez, Philadelphia, Pa., Central High School

Potter:

Justin Kibbe, Harrison Valley, Pa., Northern Potter High School

Schuylkill:

Katherine Hetherington, Ringtown, Pa., North Schuylkill High School

Somerset:

Erik Vranich, Hooversville, Pa., Conemaugh Township High School

Susquehanna:

Rachel Gaughan, Clifford, Pa., Mountain View High School

Venango:

Tara Cornmesser, Franklin, Pa., Rocky Grove High School

Washington:

Sara Roberts, McMurray, Pa., Peters Township High School

Westmoreland:

Jenny McKlveen, Stahlstown, Pa., Ligonier Valley High School

Jennifer Ward, Upper Burrell, Pa., St. Joseph High School

Wyoming:

Daniel Walters, Jr., Nicholson, Pa., Lackawanna High School

York:

April Nabholz, Felton, Pa., Home Schooled

Mary Nell, Dillsburg, Pa., Northern York High School

Samantha Stahle, Dover, Pa., Dover High School

Ryan Wood, Dallastown, Pa., Dallastown High School