Beltsville Area's ARS Award Recipients
Celebration of Excellence Awards
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1999 | 2000
- Beltsville Area Senior Research Scientist of the Year
- Dr. Jerry C. Ritchie
- Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- For continuous outstanding research and leadership in soil and water conservation on ways to manage, conserve, and improve the quality and sustainability of soil and water resources.
- Beltsville Area Early Career Scientist of the Year
- Dr. Yan Zhao
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- For exceptional advances in research on viroids, virus-based gene vectors, plant transFormation, and spiroplasma and phytoplasma genomics.
- Beltsville Area Techonology Transfer Award
- Dr. Rufus Chaney
- Animal Manure and By-Products Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- For technology transfer of phytoextraction/phytomining of nickel, cobalt, cadmium and zinc to remediate contaminated soils thereby alleviating human and/or environmental risks.
- Rena Cutrufelli
- Vincent de Jesus
- David Haytowitz
- Linda Lemar
- Robin Thomas
- Nutrient Data Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- For the enhancement of existing nutrient data delivery methods and creation of new distribution platforms For dissemination of nutrient data through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).
- Beltsville Area Support Scientist of the Year
- Barton Smith
- Bee Research Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- For exceptional service to the mission of the Bee Research Laboratory.
- Beltsville Area Technician of the Year
- Frances Perez
- Vegetable Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- For studies that define pathogen identification and resistance to late blight in potato.
- Beltsville Area Equal Opportunity, Workplace Diversity, and Outreach Award
- Dr. Thomas Jackson
- Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- For outstanding leadership in the development of a program to foster participation of underrepresented groups in remote sensing and hydrology at Alabama A&M University.
- Beltsville Area Support/Service Person of the Year
- Mike Blum
- Information Staff, Area Administrative Office
- For the exemplary manner in which he provided customer service as an IT Specialist to the Beltsville Area.
- Beltsville Area Secretarial/Clerical Employee of the Year
- Elaine McGuire
- Office of the Director,Beltsville Area
- For continuous exemplary work, commitment, and devotion to the Beltsville Area Director's Office.
- Wendy Jacobs
- Office of the Institute Director PSI, Plant Sciences Institute
- For outstanding office support to the Plant Sciences Institute Office and Laboratories.
- Beltsville Area Preston Tisdale Safety Award
- Allen Smith
- Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- For continued effort to improve the sagety and health of facilities at BHNRC and the Beltsville Area.
- Facilities Management and Operations Division Employee of the Year
- Bernie Clark
- Operations and Maintenance, Facilities Management and Operations Division
- For obtaining certification in applying specialized sealant for animal areas that enabled BARC to eliminate the need for a contractor, therefore, reducing operating costs. Also, Mr. Clark has performed his duties in an outstanding manner in support of the research community.
- Outside Awards
- Dr. Justin Barone
- Dr. Walter Schmidt
- Environmental Quality Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- awarded Second Place at the World's Best Technologies Competition, Dallas, Texas, for a proposal/talk written jointly by ARS and Featherfiber? Corporation. The World's Best Technologies Competition, WBT04, showcased dozens of entrepreneurs, with and without connections to U.S. Government laboratories, in front of leading technology venture capital firms. Top awardees were allowed exclusive access to venture capitalists.
- ARS News article about their feather fiber technology
Dr. Alana J.Moshfegh
Alanna Moshfegh - ARS Image Gallery K9308-3- Food Surveys Research Group, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- Dr. Moshfegh and her team were selected to receive a 2004 Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Mid-Atlantic Regional Excellence in Technology Transfer Awards. Dr. Moshfegh's group won for their work in the "Automated Multi Pass Method" research.
- ARS Magazine article on Dr. Moshfegh's research
- Dave Prevar
- Safety Occupational Health And Environment Staff, Facilities Management and Operations Division
- received a Special EEO Award from the ARS Civil Rights Office for an outstanding project with the ARS Civil Rights Staff that resulted in enhancements to the Civil Rights Program to better allow Area-specific needs to be met.
- Dr. David Kuykendall
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- received a Tech Museum Award in the Environment category.
- Dr. Alden (Denny) Townsend
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum
- received an Outstanding Alumnus Award in April 2004 from the School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University. The award was given in recognition of his accomplishment in increasing disease and insect tolerance in elms and maples; for his scientific and popular publications; for the release of nine Dutch elm disease-tolerant elm cultivars and six insect-tolerant red maple cultivars; and for his involvement with the Metropolitan Tree Improvement Alliance, the International Society of Arboriculture, the North Central Tree Improvement Conference, and the Save the Elms Task Force of Washington, D.C.
- Dr. Thomas J. Jackson
- Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- received the American Geophysical Union Hydrology Award for his outstanding contribution to the science of hydrology.
- ARS Magazine article about Dr. Jackson's research
- Dr. C. Benjamin Coffman
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- received the Distinguished Member Award from the Northeastern Weed Science Society "For Outstanding Contributions to Weed Science in the Northeast and to the Northeastern Weed Science Society".
- Mr. John Van de Vaarst
- Facilities Management and Operations Division
- received the Governor's Citation in recognition of outstanding service and for service as a dedicated member of the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
- Dr. Jeffrey S. Pettis
- Bee Research Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- received the James I. Hambleton Award from the Eastern Apicultural Society in recognition of his research excellence in apiculture.
- Dr. Kenneth Deahl
- Vegetable Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- received the John and Ann Niederhauser Endowment Award (JANE) from the American Phytopathological Society Foundation in recognition of his work on the studies of Stable Late Blight Resistance in Mexico.
- Dr. Alden (Denny) Townsend
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum
- received the Luther Burbank Award from the American Horticultural Society in April 2004. The national award was received for "recognition of extraordinary achievement in plant breeding." Citation: Alden M. Townsend's research has emphasized the breeding and physiological genetics of urban trees. His efforts as a research geneticist with the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit of the U.S. National Arboretum have led to the introduction of 15 new elm and maple cultivars for the urban landscape. The most notable of these cultivars are Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge' and 'New Harmony' two Dutch elm-resistant selections. Townsend has also released six insect-tolerant red maple (Acer rubrum) cultivars, many with outstanding fall color..
- More about Dr. Townsend
- Mr. John Van de Vaarst
- Facilities Management and Operations Division
- received the Maryland Rehabilitation Association's Humanitarian Award.
- Dr. Marcial A. Pastor-Corrales
- Vegetable Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- received the Meritorious Service Award from the Bean Improvement Cooperative in recognition for outstanding accomplishments relating to bean (Phaseolus) improvement.
- Mr. James Adams
- Gardens Unit, U.S. National Arboretum
- received The Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Excellence in Horticulture from The Herb Society of America in June 2004. He received the award for his stewardship of The National Herb Garden and was credited with the garden's rejuvenation, improved labeling, establishing evening events, his service on the Promising Plants Committee, and for his assistance to The Herb Society of America.
Dr. Thomas Jackson
Soil Climate Analysis Network site. ARS Image Gallery Image K10756-1- Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- received the NASA Group Achievement Award in recognition of the efforts of the Aqua Mission Team.
- Dr. Ron Fayer
- Dr.Robert Palmer
- Ms. Kristie Ludwig
- Dr. Jim Trout
- Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- received the US Department of Commerce, NOAA: Special Unit Operating Award along with NOAA personnel: Mr. E.J. Lewis, Ms. Dorothy Howard, Dr. Austin Farley, CDC personnel: Dr. Lihua Xiao, Dr. Altaf Lal and JHU personnel: Dr. Thaddeus Graczyk for scientific leadership in the discovery of waterborne human pathogens resulting from fecal contamination of coastal waters from Maine to Texas using shellfish as biological indicators that filter, concentrate, and retain pathogens from the water.
- Dr. Paul Cotton
- Community Nutrition Research Group, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- was appointed to a 3-year term as Director, USA Nutrition & Physical Activity International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.
- V. R. Reddy
- Alternate Crops and Systems Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute
- was chosen as the Outstanding Scientist, Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin and as a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America.
- Dr. Thanh H. Dao
- Animal Manure and By-Products Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- was elected Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. Dr. Dao is recognized for his investigative competence and creativity in developing key concepts in understanding the behavior of trace organics and phosphorus in manure-soil-water systems, and for dedicated service to the profession of Agronomy.
- Dr. Yakov Pachepsky
- Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- was elected Fellow of the Agronomy Society of America.
- Dr. Max J. Paape
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- was elected Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association. This award recognizes ADSA members for their distinguished service to the dairy industry for 20 years or more and is one of the highest honors that the Association bestows.
- Dr. Yakov Pachepsky
- Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- was elected Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America.
- Dr. Paul Cotton
- Community Nutrition Research Group, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- was elected to a 3-year term to the American Dietetic Association Nominating Committee.
- Dr. Orville Levander
- Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
- was honored by a celebratory minisyposium commemorating his life-long career in trace element nutrition. The program, entitled "Four Decades of Selenium Research: a Tribute to Orville A. Levander," took place at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 2004 Conference in Washington, D.C. Four speakers presented talks on various contributions from Dr. Levander's laboratory in the areas of human nutritional requirements, interactions with other elements, possibilities in cancer prevention, and nutritional effects against viruses.
- Dr. Donna Fare
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum
- was presented with an award as "Volunteer of the Year" from the White Country School System in Tennessee. Dr Fare is at the McMinnville, Tennessee worksite..
- Dr. Curt Van Tassell
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- was selected the American Dairy Science Association Outstanding Young Scientist.
- Dr. Paul Doraiswamy
- Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- won for his work in "A Real Time Assessment System for Spring Wheat Production in Siberia.".
- Presidential Rank Award
Dr. Rufus Chaney
Rufus Chaney examines the roots of a metal-accumulating Thlaspi plant. ARS Photo Gallery no. k6064-8- Animal Manure and By-Products Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- cited for a commitment to excellence in public service. Dr. Chaney is renowned worldwide for developing safe, environmentally friendly techniques to remove trace elements such as cadmium from contaminated soils, so that they can't move into food crops.
- ARS Magazine article about Dr. Chaney's research
- Dr. Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- cited for a commitment to excellence in public service. Dr. Dubey's pioneering research into the biology and control of three major diseases of people and livestock--toxoplasmosis, neosporosis and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis--has saved billions of dollars worldwide in healthcare and livestock production costs.
- USDA Honor Awards
- Ms.Kristin Cameron
- Dr. Ron Fayer
- Ms. Kristie Ludwig
- Mr. Robert Palmer
- Dr. Monica Santin
- Dr. Jim Trout
- Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute
- Plow Award for maintaining and enhancing the nation's natural resources and environment for conducting intensive surveillance research for protozoan parasites, incorporating novel molecular epidemiological approaches that have greatly enhanced our understanding of risks to the environment, food and water supply.
