UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Nineteen cooperative extension educators were honored recently for their commitment and service, receiving the first Penn State Cooperative Extension Director's awards.

Five were given Spirit Awards, recognizing individuals who show an outstanding personal commitment to the mission of cooperative extension and their community through their dedication, enthusiasm, and quality performance. Award recipients demonstrated knowledge of cooperative extension, leadership excellence, team building, creativity, role modeling, positive attitude and enthusiasm, as well as a commitment to diversity, research, education and scholarship.

--Barbara Christ, professor of plant pathology, received the Spirit Award for Outstanding Research Partner who exemplifies the spirit and mission of extension. Christ was honored for her extensive and high-quality potato research, and for consistently carrying the practical results of the research to growers and the potato industry.

--Shawna Jones, nutrition education advisor in the expanded food and nutrition education program in Erie County was given the Spirit Award for Outstanding Staff Member. She was recognized for promoting the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Cooperative Extension, for serving as a strong ambassador of all programs within the college and for providing top-notch educational outreach to families in need.

--Phyllis M. Wright, senior extension educator in Warren County, received the Spirit Award for Outstanding County Educator. She was honored for helping to improve the lives of Pennsylvania residents through education, for developing leadership, for working to improve her community and for representing extension as an effective, dynamic and relevant organization. --Alyssa Dodd, extension associate in agricultural economics and rural sociology, was given the Spirit Award for Outstanding State Specialist. She was prised for her enthusiasm and commitment to the educational process, as well as for her energy, perseverance, professionalism and spirit of collaboration.

--Lee Curtis of Warren County received the Spirit Award for Outstanding Volunteer. He was recognized as an avid and staunch supporter of cooperative extension who truly believes that extension is valuable to both Warren County and Pennsylvania residents. Curtis is a farmer known as an advocate for extensions work on behalf of youth development, low-income families and community and economic development.

--The Team Award recognizes cooperative extension administrative and program teams that work together in an exemplary fashion for a specific length of time to address a special initiative or goal. The Team Award went to the Southeast Pennsylvania Urban Agricultural Agents Committee, made up of Emelie Swackhamer, Mary Concklin, Scott Guiser, Cheryl Bjornson, Warren Goll, David Suchanic, George Perry, Julianne Schieffer, Doris Stahl, Nancy Bosold, John Berry, Stanley Green and David Sanford.

The Leadership Award honors an extension professional who has a strong history of outstanding leadership and contributions in Penn State Cooperative Extension and who has demonstrated the highest overall standards of performance. The Leadership Award went to William Kleiner, county extension director in Adams County.

"It is my pleasure to honor these hard-working professionals for their commitment to cooperative extension," says Ted Alter, associate vice president of outreach and cooperative extension. "In this, the first year that these awards have been given, we have truly selected a deserving group of recipients."

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