Witoon Prinyawiwatkul. (Photo by John Wozniak)

New officers for Gamma Sigma Delta are, left to right, Bobby Soileau, Karen McClelland, Cathy Williams (past president), Krishna Paudel and Johnny Morgan. The new president, Maud Walsh, was unable to attend the ceremony. (Photo by Linda Foster Benedict)

News Release Distributed 05/06/10

Teachers and students in the LSU College of Agriculture received awards from the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society at a recent annual ceremony and banquet (April 30).

The top award went to Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, food science professor, who was named the Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award winner. He conducts research on seafood technology and byproduct use at the LSU AgCenter, and he teaches courses in sensory evaluation of food and food product development at LSU.

The Research Award of Merit went to Cristina Sabliov, associate professor in biological and agricultural engineering. The Extension Award of Merit was presented to Dale Pollet, entomologist. The Teaching Award of Merit was given to David Weindorf, assistant professor in plant, environmental and soil sciences.

Fifteen faculty members were named to the Teacher Merit Honor Roll. Their department and names are: Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness – Wes Harrison, Steven A. Henning and Michael Salassi; Animal Sciences – Kayanush Aryana, Robert Godke, Bruce F. Jenny and Cathleen C. Williams; Biological & Agricultural Engineering – W. Todd Monroe and Daniel L. Thomas; Food Science – Witoon Prinyawiwatkul and Zhimin Xu; Human Ecology – Loren Marks and Sarah Pierce; Human Resource Education – Curtis R. Friedel; and Renewable Natural Resources – San Chang.

The Outstanding Ph.D. Student award went to Reshani Nisansala Senevirathne in food science, and the Outstanding Master’s Student award was presented to Ryan M. Doescher in animal sciences. The Graduate Student Merit awards were given to Anantha Padmaja Lakkakula in human ecology and Doescher.

The top undergraduate students were Rachel Wise, a senior in human ecology, and Hayley Hollier, a junior in animal sciences.

New officers for the organization are Maud Walsh, associate professor in plant, environmental and soil sciences, president; Bobby Soileau, director of the LSU AgCenter Leadership Program, president-elect; Karen McClelland, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, secretary; Krishna Paudel, associate professor in agricultural economics, treasurer; and Johnny Morgan, communications specialist, historian.