UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Sixty-four of the state's outstanding high school students have returned home after participating in the 2002 Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences at Penn State's University Park Campus. And, while highlights and favorite activities vary, all the participants left with a greater appreciation of Pennsylvania, national and international agriculture.

The prestigious program attracted some of the state's top high school juniors and seniors for a five-week journey through innovative research and career opportunities in such areas as food sciences, animal and plant sciences, natural resources and the environment, and agricultural and biological engineering. The students conducted research projects with faculty using College of Agricultural Sciences facilities, including advanced libraries and laboratories.

"This has been an impressive group of young people," says Marianne Fivek, director of the school and assistant professor of agricultural and extension education. "They demonstrated the academic potential that Pennsylvania is looking to develop, and they've confirmed the state leadership's foresight in founding and supporting the Governor's School. Our state's position as an agricultural producer and leader can only be maintained by attracting top young talent to the field, and this group was an excellent example of what our state has to offer."

One challenge inherent in recruiting the best-and-brightest, Fivek explains, is that agriculture must compete with other careers for students' interests. She says some attendees are skeptical when they arrive, but impressed when they leave.

"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 agricultural education."

Since its founding in 1986, more than 900 students have attended the Governor's School. Most 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 entrepreneurism in agribusiness, genetics of domestic animals, recycling, environmental management and engineering.

The students took courses and electives in many areas, and selected an independent research project to participate in. Field trips to agricultural businesses and agencies gave students hands-on experience working in laboratories, greenhouses and farms. Activities included visits to Longwood Botanical Gardens, the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, Furman's Foods and Shaver's Creek Environmental Center.

Participants were not graded or ranked, but received special state certificates to recognize their accomplishments. The school is sponsored by the Pennsylvania departments of Education and Environmental Protection, 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, information technology and global entrepreneurism.

Applications for the 2003 Pennsylvania Governor's Schools will be available in high school guidance offices in November. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/CASHOME/ACAPROG/ or send e-mail to Marianne Fivek at mailto:mafivek@psu.edu.

Following is a county-by-county list of students attending the 2002 Pennsylvania Governor's School in Agricultural Sciences. Individual photos can be obtained by contacting Marianne Fivek at 814-865-7521 or e-mail mafivek@psu.edu.

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Contact: Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-863-9877 fax #247

EDITORS: Contact Marianne Fivek at 814-865-7521 or e-mail mailto:mafivek@psu.edu.