The University of Kentucky chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society recently recognized outstanding students, faculty, alumni and agricultural leaders. Awards were presented during a ceremony held on March 19. The recipients included two undergraduate students from the School of Human Environmental Sciences, one recent master’s graduate and one alumnus.
From left to right: Brett Dickens, Outstanding Senior; Monica Fowler, Outstanding Master’s Student; Amy Leavell Cooper, Outstanding Senior; and Representative Tanya Pullin, Outstanding Alumnus
Brett Dickens, a senior majoring in human nutrition, was honored with the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Senior Award. Brett has maintained a stellar academic standing and has been very active on-campus and in the community. He is a Provost Scholarship recipient and received 1st place recognition for his research at the 2011 Barnstable Brown Obesity and Diabetes Research Day. He will enter medical school in the fall.
Amy Leavell Cooper, a senior majoring in family and consumer sciences education, also was honored as one of three recipients of the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Senior Award. Amy is currently completing her student teaching in family and consumer sciences. She has been a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority for four years and an active leader in the Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences. Amy is a recipient of the UK Presidential Scholarship and has maintained an exceptional academic standing.
Monica Fowler received the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Master’s Student Award. Monica completed her master’s degree in dietetics and hospitality administration in December 2012. She is a registered dietitian and is currently working with UK Athletics. Monica is passionate about nutrition and hunger issues. Her master thesis examined stakeholder feelings and perceptions one year following the initiation of a feeding program at the Kentucky Academy kindergarten in the village of Adjeikrom in Ghana. Monica has been active in the Universities Fighting World Hunger initiative and chaired the planning committee for the Phi Upsilon Omicron Conclave in Lexington in the fall of 2012.
The Honorable Tanya Pullin, State Representative for Kentucky’s 98th District, was recognized as the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Alumnus. Representative Pullin earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Relations at UK, a master’s degree in history at Duke University and a juris doctorate from the UK College of Law. After a distinguished career in intellectual property law in New York City, Hong Kong and Vietnam, Representative Pullin returned to her hometown in Greenup County, Kentucky. She has served the people of the 98th District as State Representative since 2001. She is a strong advocate for families, service members, veterans, education and infrastructure and an active supporter of the School of Human Environmental Sciences.