Alumni News—Fall 2012

Alum Selected As Fulbright Scholar

John Carlson, a professor in Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. He will spend August through December teaching at the Ryazan State Agrotechnological University in Russia. Carlson earned an ISU bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural journalism in 1974, and a master’s degree and a doctorate in 1977 and 1980, respectively, in animal breeding.

Cals Alumni And Faculty Earn National Teaching Awards

The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture honored two CALS faculty members for their teaching ability. Curt Youngs, animal science, was presented the Central Region Outstanding Teacher Award. Mike Retallick (PhD ’05 ag and life sciences education), agricultural education and studies, was presented the Teacher Fellow Award. Other CALS alumni honored as Teaching Fellows were: Nicholas Paulson (’02 ag systems technology), University of Illinois; Antoine Alston (PhD ’00 ag and life sciences education and studies), North Carolina A&T State University; and Jennifer Bormann (’97 animal science, PhD ’04 animal breeding and genetics), Kansas State University.

Evans Honored For Distinguished Service To Ag Communications

Jim Evans (’54 agricultural journalism) was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA). The retired professor of agricultural communications at the University of Illinois was recognized for his work developing the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, a collection of information on agriculture and the profession of agricultural communications. The AAEA also named a new scholarship after Evans for his “tremendous impact on the establishment and  growth of agricultural communications programs.”

Overcoming Cancer, Tragedy To Graduate Vet School

CALS alumna Sarah Myers (’07 microbiology) overcame cancer and family tragedy to complete her veterinary medicine degree in May. In the five years since earning her undergraduate degree her life has hit highs and lows most others experience over a lifetime: marriage, birthing two children, caring for and mourning the death of her mother, her own cancer diagnoses and treatment and finally, completing her doctor of veterinary medicine degree.

Hoiboar Not The Biggest, But Still Champ For Kids With Heart Disease

Paul Kruse (’80 farm operations) and John Sweeney (’80 animal science,’84 DVM) teamed up with fellow ISU alumni and fans to raise Fred Hoiboar, named after Iowa State Men’s Basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. The tubby Yorkshire weighed in at 1,079 lbs. at the Iowa State Fair Biggest Boar contest. While Hoiboar didn’t take home the gold, he did help raise funds and awareness for heart disease benefitting Hoiberg’s cause of choice Camp Odayin for kids with heart disease.