UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Eight Penn State students have been selected as College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society 2007 Internship Award winners.

The award, which includes a $750 stipend, was established to encourage students to enroll in internship courses offered within the College of Agricultural Sciences. 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 Alumni Society recognizes the importance of on-the-job learning experience to prepare undergraduates for today's competitive job market," says Naomi Knaub, the college's director of alumni relations. "By working as interns, students can establish networks of professional contacts and discover which areas of specialization appeal to them."

The winners are:

--Lisa G. Carper, daughter of John and Karin Carper of Richlandtown. An Environmental Resource Management major, Carper was an intern with the Penn State Institutes of the Environment. She is a graduate of Quakertown Community Senior High School.

--Brynn Kepler, daughter of Nancy and Lindsay Deppen and David Kepler of Herndon. An Animal Sciences major, Kepler was an intern with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in Harrisburg. She is a graduate of Line Mountain High School.

--Renee Norman, daughter of David and Aggie Norman of Liberty. An Animal Sciences major with a Business Management option, Norman was an intern with Ag Choice Farm Credit - Endless Mountains branch in Towanda. She is a graduate of Liberty Junior/Senior High School.

--Kimberly Oellerich, daughter of Lawrence and Carolyn Oellerich of Matamoras. A Horticulture major, Oellerich was an intern with Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. She is a graduate of Delaware Valley High School.

--David V. Silliman, son of Dale and Colleen Silliman of State College. A Landscape Contracting major, Silliman was an intern with Clarke O. Warner Landscape Maintenance in State College. He is a graduate of State College Area High School.

--Levi Smith, son of Ron and Anita Smith of Shippensburg. An Animal Sciences major, Smith was an intern with Rawah Wilderness Ranch in Jelm, Wyo. He is a graduate of Big Spring High School.

--Mark B. Wicoff, son of Neal and Nancy Wicoff of Wind Gap. An Agribusiness Management major, Wicoff was an intern with Jessen Wheat Company in Pine Bluffs, Wyo. He is a graduate of Nazareth Area High School.

--Robyn K. Wirth, daughter of James and Darlene Wirth of Orefield. An Animal Sciences major, Wirth was an intern with Bell and Evans in Fredericksburg. She is a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Naomi Knaub at 814-867-1819 or by e-mail at nmk107@psu.edu. Chuck Gill 814-863-2713 cdg5@psu.edu