UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Five Penn State students have been selected as College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society 2003 Internship Award winners. The award, which includes a $500 stipend, was established to encourage students to enroll in internship courses offered within the College of Agricultural Sciences.

"The Alumni Society recognizes the importance of on-the-job learning experience to prepare undergraduates for today's competitive job market," says Jillian Stevenson, the college's director of alumni relations. "By working as interns, students can establish networks of professional contacts and discover what areas of specialization appeal to them."

Internship Award winners are chosen on the basis of an internship plan, a final report on the internship, an employer evaluation and a letter of recommendation from the internship course supervisor. The winners are:

--Wendy Brazenec, daughter of Martin and Barbara Brazenec of Pottsville. A December 2002 Penn State graduate in Environmental Resource Management, Brazenec was an intern with the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Lab on the University Park campus. As a research assistant, she was responsible for developing a "topographic index" that would allow researchers to more accurately model nonpoint source pollution from critical watershed areas. Brazenec is a graduate of Minersville Area Jr./Sr. High School.

--Ross Miller, son of Gary and Diane Miller of Fort Jennings, Ohio. A Turfgrass Science major, Miller was an intern at the Double Eagle Club, a private golf club in Columbus, Ohio, where he performed fertilizer evaluation/comparison testing on a nursery green on the golf course property. Miller is a graduate of Fort Jennings High School.

--Lindsey Noll, daughter of Chuck and Kathy Noll of York. A senior majoring in Environmental Resource Management, Noll was an intern for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Wastewater Management in Harrisburg. Noll is a graduate of Central York High School.

--Casey Townsend, son of Jack Townsend and Joni Raupers of Wyalusing. A senior majoring in Environmental Resource Management, Townsend was an intern at the Sheep Pasture Nature Camp for children through the Natural Resources Trust of Easton, a nonprofit community organization in North Easton, Mass. As a naturalist/field guide, he taught and interacted with children and observed their behaviors and learning methods. He is a graduate of Wyalusing Valley Jr./Sr. High School.

--Amanda Yeager, daughter of Glen and Janice Yeager of Sinking Spring. A Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences major with a minor in Agricultural Communications, Yeager was an intern in the Information and Communication Technologies Unit of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. As a news and publications writer, she was responsible for interviewing faculty members, researching topics, writing news releases and magazine articles, and other writing assignments. Yeager is a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia.

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EDITORS: For more information about student internships in the College of Agricultural Sciences, contact Barbara Wade at 814-865-7521.

Contact:

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-863-9877 fax #272