Click to watch a photo slideshow of the award winners:
Contact: Blair Fannin, Associate Director for Communications, 979-845-2259, blair.fannin@ag.tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service recently presented its Superior Service Awards, the highest employee honor conferred by the agency.
The awards recognize AgriLife Extension faculty and staff members who provide outstanding performance in Extension education or other outstanding service to the organization and to Texans.
“Whether its individuals, teams or partners, Superior Service is the hallmark of an organization in being recognized for continued exemplary work,” said Jeff Hyde, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service director. “The personnel receiving awards this year represent exactly what Extension is and does. They do their jobs with servitude and heart and go above and beyond providing Superior Service to Texas.”
The following agency partnership awards were given representing those that partner with AgriLife Extension in administering educational programming in a variety of areas:
Rebuild Texas Fund: After Hurricane Harvey, OneStar and Michael and Susan Dell Foundations collaboratively established the Rebuild Texas Fund. The funds were apportioned to meet the urgent needs of communities in south Texas that were most impacted by the hurricane. Rebuild’s focus areas include housing, education childcare, health, small business, community and economic development, workforce and transportation.
From left to right: Dr. Jeff Hyde, Kate Shannon, Chris Bugbee and Dr. Patrick Stover
Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts: The organization was honored for its continued support of the youth water ambassadors’ program, helping train future leaders in the industry.
From left to right: Dr. Jeff Hyde, David Bailey, Zach Holland, Julia Stanford, Leah Martinsson and Dr. Patrick Stover
Texas Association of Counties: The association has partnered with AgriLife Extension Service to provide for the needs of counties. This partnership has continued to strengthen through the past 50 years. The association works together with AgriLife Extension’s V.G. Young Institute of County Government to provide educational opportunities for county elected officials across the state.
From left to right: Dr. Jeff Hyde, Susan Redford, Dr. Peter McGuill, Renee Couch and Dr. Patrick Stover
Others honored were:
Distinguished Agent
- Julie Massey, county extension agent – coastal and marine resources, Galveston County.
- Ed Schneider, county extension agent – agriculture and natural resources, Robertson County.
- Cary Sims, county extension agent – agriculture and natural resources, Angelina County.
- Scott Strawn, county extension agent – agriculture and natural resources, county coordinator – Texas 4-H, Ochiltree County.
Regents Fellows
- Danny Nusser, regional program leader for agriculture and natural resources, Potter County.
- Kathy Smith, family and community health agent, Parker County.
County Extension Agent
- Chelsea Dorward, agriculture and natural resources, Bosque County.
- Molly Forman, family and community health, Briscoe County
- Sheryl Raley Long, 4-H youth development, Bell County.
- Richard Parrish, agriculture and natural resources, Leon County.
- Laura Petty, family and community health, Leon County.
- Marvin Young, Cooperative Extension agent, Prairie View A&M University.
Extension Specialist or Program Director
- David Anderson, Ph.D., Extension specialist, agricultural economics.
- Mengmeng Gu, Ph.D., associate professor and Extension specialist, horticultural sciences.
- Todd Sink, Ph.D., associate department head and program leader, associate professor and Extension specialist, wildlife and fisheries sciences.
Administrative Support, State
- Annette Cayard, administrative associate III, Nueces County.
- Judy Cole, office manager, Rusk County.
Administrative Support, County
- Carolyn Merren, office manager, McCulloch County.
Program Support
- Ruby Zavala, youth gardens coordinator, Bexar County.
Program Specialist
- Garry Branham, Extension program specialist I, 4-H youth development, San Angelo.
- DeDe Jones, Extension program specialist III, agricultural economics, Amarillo.
Volunteerism
- Sandra Kunkel, family and community health agent, Medina County.
4-H Shooting Sports Team
- Larry Hysmith, Extension program specialist II, Brazos County.
- Larry Perez, Extension program specialist I, Brazos County.
- Garry Branham, Extension program specialist I, Tom Green County.
- Laura Huebinger, Extension program specialist II, Erath County.
- Cory Hundl, Extension program specialist I, Brazos County.
- Megan Logan, Extension program specialist I, Uvalde County.
- Meredith Carter, Extension program specialist II, Nueces County.
- Luis Saldana, Extension program specialist I, Hidalgo County.
Diversity
- Learn, Grow, Eat, Go Team: Angie Gutierrez, family and community health agent, Bexar County
- Ruby Zavala, youth gardens coordinator, Bexar County.
Teams
Early Childhood Education Online Training Program Team
- Stephen Green, Ph.D., assistant director for family and community health, Brazos County.
- Jodi Nerren, Extension program specialist II, family and community health, Brazos County.
- Shawna Manning, instructional designer III, family and community health, Brazos County.
- Gabriela Mayer, business administrator I, family and community health, Brazos County.
- Lynn Wenzel, website administrator, Brazos County.
- Treye Rice, program coordinator, Brazos County.
Child Care Conference Team
- Karen Jungman, family and community health agent, Hill County.
- Sheryl Austin, Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension agent, Bell County.
- Colleen Foleen, family and community health agent, McLennan County.
Rio Grande Valley Small Acreage Program Team
- Samuel Zapata, Ph.D., assistant professor and Extension specialist, agricultural economics, Hidalgo County.
- Bruce Carpenter, Ph.D., Extension specialist, animal science, Brazos County.
- Ashley Gregory, horticulture agent, Hidalgo County.
- Jennifer Herrera, horticulture agent, Cameron County.
- Vidal Saenz, agriculture and natural resources agent, Hidalgo County.
- Juan Enscio, Ph.D., associate professor biological and agricultural engineering, Weslaco.
- Rolando Zamora, Prairie View A&M Extension agent, Raymondville.
- Victor Gutierrez, Extension associate, Texas Water Resources Institute, Hidalgo County.
Regional Vegetable Conference Team
- James “Boone” Holladay, horticulture agent, Fort Bend County.
- Stephen Brueggerhoff, horticulture agent, Brazoria County.
- Jessica Chase, agriculture and natural resources agent, Brazoria County.
- Stacie Villarreal, agriculture and natural resources agent, Waller County.
- John Gordy, agriculture and natural resources agent, Fort Bend County (2015-2019).
- Dianne Gertson, family and community health agent, Fort Bend County.
- Juan Anciso, Ph.D., professor and Extension specialist, horticultural sciences, Hidalgo County.
Emerging Needs Team: Child Abuse Prevention Summit Team
- Sandra Kunkel, family and community health agent, Medina County.
- Molly Flores, family and community health agent, county coordinator for 4-H youth development, family and community health, Uvalde County.
Owning Your Piece of Texas Team
- Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Extension specialist, agricultural economics, Amarillo.
- Emmy Kiphen, Extension program specialist I, agricultural economics, College Station.
- Blake Bennett, Extension specialist, agricultural economics, Dallas.
Distinguished Career:
- Sherri Halsell, family and community health agent, Clay County.
- Larry Hysmith, Extension program specialist II, 4-H youth development, Brazos County.
Agency Leadership:
- Vince Mannino, county Extension director, Fort Bend County.
- Todd Swift, regional program leader, agriculture and natural resources, Uvalde County.