FCS Agents Receive Regional and National Awards

In September, the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) held their annual meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The organization celebrated the success of many exemplary members through the awards program.  Several Kentucky Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Science and colleagues received national and regional recognitions this year. Agents were acknowledged for their leadership and implementation of programs that are striving towards better quality of life for families in their communities and across Kentucky.

The following awards were presented to Kentucky Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences:

• Distinguished Service: This award is a high honor given by the NEAFCS recognizing agents for their leadership, exceptional programs, and professional advancement. The 2013 Kentucky recipients are Sara Bogle Martin, Carlisle County; Tracy Cowles, Butler County; and Ruth Chowning, Bullitt County.
  
  
• Continued Excellence: This award recognizes dynamic involvement in professional improvement programming, promotion of professional development, and leadership. The 2013 Kentucky recipients are Rosie Allen, Northern Kentucky Area Nutrition Agent; Linda Combs, Knott County; and Christine Duncan, Oldham County.
  
  
• NEAFCS Greenwood Frysinger: This cash award provides early career members with a stipend to expand their professional network and participate in professional development. Laura White from Rowan County is the 2013 southern region winner. Laura was chosen for her article “A New Agent Journey,” that chronicles her exciting new career as a FCS agent.
  
  
• Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity: This award is presented to a member that exemplifies diversity and pluralism in any Extension FCS program or activity. The southern region certificate winner is Denise Wooley, McCracken County. Denise implemented “Kids in the Kitchen,” an after-school cooking class targeted to minority children in McCracken County.
  
  
• Food Safety: This award recognizes exceptional, innovative programming related to food safety. Patricia Poor, Grant County is the southern region winner with a program titled “Summer of Salsa.” The program incorporated gardening with safe cooking practices, and promoted healthier food choices and food preservation.
  
  
• American Cleaning Institute (ACI) Clean and Healthy Families and Communities:  This award honors excellent educational programming efforts that utilize any ACI educational materials. Donna Fryman, Fleming County, along with team members Debra Cotterill, Nutrtion Education Programs; and Shannon Smith, Bracken County were the national and southern region winners. They implemented a program on how correctly measuring laundry detergent and cleaning supplies can have many benefits including financial and environmental.
  
  
• Human Development/Family Relationships: This award recognizes innovative human development and family relationships education. Brooke Jenkins-Howard, Magoffin County; Sally Mineer, Lewis County; Dr. Amy Hosier, Assistant Extension Professor; and Brian Fitzpatrick, Computer Support Specialist received the second place southern region and national awards for the program “Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions.” The program focuses on a variety of family tradition topics with the main goal to emphasize the importance of family rituals and traditions.
  
  
• School Wellness: This award was established to recognize school-based programs that promote and improve physical, emotional and/or social wellness of students, staff, or families. Donna Fryman, Fleming County, with team members Gwen O’Cull, Fleming County EFNEP assistant and Barbara Campbell, Fleming County SNAP-ED assistant, were the 3rd place southern region winners. Their program, “Healthy Divas,” encourages positive self-esteem and health habits in female adolescents with the goal to help the students be successful in school and throughout their life.
  
  
• Communications-Newsletters: This award encourages excellence in communications by recognizing exceptional newsletters written for a general or specific audience. Kathy Byrnes, Kenton County is the second place national and southern region winner. She designed a monthly newsletter to encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and promoting local farmers markets.
  
  
• Communications-Written Press Release: This award recognizes excellence in communications through written press releases.  Amanda Hardy, Henderson County is the first place southern region winner.  Her award winning press release was entitled, “Shades of Red.” It addressed cardiovascular disease and the importance of women’s awareness of heart disease.
  
  
• Communications-Radio/Podcast: This award encourages excellence in communications by recognizing exceptional radio programs or podcasts. The first place southern region winner and the second place national winner is Terry Whalen, Robertson County. Her fire safety radio programs provided educational information for the people of Robertson County who have no regular newspaper and limited internet access.
  
  
• Communications-Educational Curriculum: This award recognizes creative teaching packages including a plan for education and evaluation as well as communication tools. The second place southern region recognition was awarded to Sally Mineer, Lewis County; Brooke Jenkins-Howard, Magoffin County; and Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Extension Professor. Their curriculum focused on travel safety and how being well prepared and organized can make traveling a more pleasant experience.
  
  
• Communications-Internet Education Technology: This award honors NEAFCS members who develop outstanding educational technology designed to support constructive behavior. Brooke Jenkins-Howard, Magoffin County; Sally Mineer, Lewis County; Dr. Amy Hosier, Assistant Extension Professor; and Brian Fitzpatrick, Computer Support Specialist received first place southern region recognition for their work to implement the “Creating and Maintaining Family Traditions” program via internet educational technology.
  
  
• Communications-Educational Technology: This award recognizes development of outstanding educational technology.  Third place national winner and second place southern region winner is Sally Mineer, Lewis County; Brooke Jenkins-Howard, Magoffin County; and Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Extension Professor, received third place national recognition and second place southern region recognition for the Travel Safety-Know before You Go program.
  
  
• Social Networking: This award acknowledges innovative online social networking efforts. The first place southern region and second place national awards were presented to Mindy McCulley, Barren County; Janet Johnson, Allen County; Jennifer Bridge, Meade County; Liz Kingsland, Bourbon County; Kathy Byrnes, Kenton County; Lynn Blankenship, Metcalfe County; Pam York, Russell County; Kelli Bonifer, Adair County; Natalie Taul, Grayson County; Amber Meeks, McLean County; Lara Savage, Monroe County; Cecelia Hostilo, Trigg County; Rita May, Senior Extension Associate; Sarah Brandl, Extension Specialist; and Tammy Stephenson, Senior Lecturer. This team utilized social media to enhance client participation and experiences with the “Plate it Up Kentucky Proud” project. Laura White, Rowan County received the second place southern region award for her use of Twitter and Facebook as an outreach tool to give the community weekly information about nutrition, finances, and upcoming programs.