UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Dale Olver, instructor in dairy and animal science, has received the 2003 Excellence in Academic Advising Award from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society. The award recognizes faculty for outstanding service to students in academic advising, career planning and personal counseling.

Olver, co-advisor of the Dairy Science Club, is coach of the Dairy Cattle Judging Team. He advises approximately 25 undergraduate students per year, and he works with eight to 20 undergraduates each year in independent studies/teaching assistant activities. He teaches courses in animal science, dairy judging, dairy cattle production and management, dairy cattle evaluation and selection, and dairy science that are taken by hundreds of students each year. Olver also works with youth involved in 4-H dairy programs. He provides leadership to the state 4-H dairy program and coordinates several 4-H dairy events, such as the Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show.

In addition to receiving high praise from a host of students he currently advises, Olver -- who will receive an engraved brass plate and $1,000 honorarium at Penn State's commencement ceremonies -- got support from a number of colleagues and past students.

"Whether it is taking extra time to make sure that each student understands his or her role in an extracurricular activity, or pursuing outside parties to enrich the learning experience of the student, Dale ignores the clock when it comes to developing student leaders," says Kirk Sattazahn, central marketing manager for Select Sire Power of Rocky Mount, Va., and a former Dairy Science Club member.

"Dale is most deserving of this honor," says Pat Comerford, chair of the award selection committee. "He is a dedicated, loyal and respected advisor, mentor and friend to many. His dedication and commitment to students is exceptional."

"Dale is legendary with respect to advising undergraduate students," says Terry Etherton, head of the department of dairy and animal science. "Our students have the highest respect for him. Dale spends countless hours advising students about their undergraduate program and career opportunities."

Ron Kensinger, associate professor of animal nutrition and physiology, describes Olver as "hard to keep up with." He says this of Olver's advising efforts: "He tirelessly helps students meet their career goals. He encounters more students in his classes every year than any other faculty member in the department."

Dairy science professor Larry Muller pays Olver high praise. "I believe Dale Olver has had more impact on the education, lives and development of young people than anyone else in the College of Agricultural Sciences during the last several years," he says.

Advising coordinator Jana Peters notes that Olver is continually sought out by students for advice on personal issues. "They form lines in the office waiting to talk to him," she says. "He can be found most any day of the week visiting with students, many times well after 5 p.m."

The undergraduate program coordinator of the Animal Sciences program, Erskine Cash, credits Olver for attracting many students. "Dale is one of the most active recruiters in the department, and partly as a result of his efforts, the animal sciences major is increasing in enrollment at a time when the college enrollment is declining."

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EDITORS: Dale Olver by phone at 814-863-3914 or by e-mail at dolver@psu.edu.

Contact:

Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-863-9877 fax #154