September 24-28, 2018, approximately eighty Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension professionals from Kentucky traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Conference. The event provided many opportunities for Kentucky FCS professionals to shine through seminar presentations, poster sessions, exhibits and award presentations. Lora Lee Howard, Clay County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, completed her term as the national association president, the first Kentucky FCS agent to hold this post.
Kentucky FCS agents received 10 national awards and 18 southern region awards. The complete list is detailed below. Three Kentucky FCS agents were presented with the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) – Nanette Banks, Letcher County; Amanda Hardy, Henderson County; and Eugenia Wilson, Boyd County. Three FCS agents, all previous recipients of the DSA, were honored with the Continued Excellence Award – Melanie Bealmear, Union County; Kenna Knight, Pendleton County; and Christy Ramey, Simpson County. In addition, Judy Hetterman, Owen County Extension Agent for FCS, received the Joint Council of Extension Professionals Creative Excellence Award. Hetterman is one of only three Extension professionals nationwide in all program areas to receive this recognition.
The School of Human Environmental Sciences extends congratulations to all the outstanding FCS professionals who were honored during the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Conference!
National and Southern Region Award Winners
- 1st Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Extension Housing Outreach Award: Alivia Faris, Lawrence County FCS Agent was honored for her program titled, “Healthy Homes Inside and Out.”
- 1st Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Clean and Healthy Families and Communities - Team Award: Morgan Rousseau, Livingston County FCS Agent, and Anna Cox McCoy, Fulton County FCS Agent, honoring their program titled, “Downsizing and Organizing Your Home.”
- 1st Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Innovations in Programming - Team Award: Dayna Parrett Fentress, Hardin County FCS Agent, was recognized for the POP Club at the Farmers Market program. Team members included: Brenda Thomas, Deena London, Tonia Williams, Marla Stillwell, Matt Adams, Amy Aldenderfer, Stephanie Meredith, Holly Powell, Kristen Parrett, Chuck Crutcher and Mark Thomas.
- 1st Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Communications-Radio/Podcast Program: Leslie Workman, Pike County FCS Agent honoring her podcast titled, “Prepare to Care.”
- 2nd Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Clean and Healthy Families and Communities Award: Katherine Hahn Jury, Hopkins County FCS Agent, in recognition of her handwashing/hygiene program at Pride Elementary School in Madisonville.
- 2nd Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Communications-Written Press Release: Kathy Roesel Byrnes, Kenton County FCS Agent in recognition of her article titled, “Planning Your Digital Estate.”
- 3rd Place National and 1st Place Southern Region - Human Development and Family Relationships Team Award: Matti Daniels, Whitley County FCS Agent, Lora Lee Howard, Clay County FCS Agent, Judi O’Bryan, Laurel County FCS Agent, Hazel Jackson, Rockcastle County FCS Agent, Lora Campbell-Davidson, Harlan County FCS Agent, Rebecca Miller, Bell County FCS Agent and Danielle Barrett, Knox County FCS Agent, were honored for the cooking school “Handmade Holidays.”
- 3rd Place National and 2nd Place Southern Region - Environmental Education Team Award: Eugenia Wilson, Boyd County FCS Agent with team members from the Boyd County Library and Highland Museum and Discovery Center were recognized for their partnership program “Recycling is Da Bomb.”
- 3rd Place National and 2nd Place Southern Region - Family Health & Wellness Award: Whitney Hilterbran, Scott County FCS Agent in recognition for her program titled, “Not Your Grandma's Pressure Cooker.”
- 3rd Place National and 3rd Place Southern Region - Communication-Newsletter Team Award: Brenda Cockerham, Johnson County FCS Agent, with team member Lee Edwards, Johnson County Program Assistant for Family and Consumer Sciences, were honored for their newsletter titled, “Communication is Key.”
Southern Region Award Winners
- 2nd Place Clean and Healthy Family and Communities Award: Kenna Knight, Pendleton County FCS Agent, honoring her program titled, “Tackling Your Laundry.”
- 2nd Place Community Partnership Award: Sherri Broderick, Gallatin County FCS Agent in recognition of her program titled, “Making Warsaw More Walkable.”
- 2nd Place Program Excellence through Research - Team Award AND 2nd Place Multi-State Collaboration Team Award: Brenda Cockerham, Johnson County FCS Agent in recognition of the Keys to Embracing Aging Program. Team members included: Luci Hockersmith, Mercer County FCS Agent; Kayla Watts, Breathitt County FCS Agent; Rita Stewart, Lincoln County FCS Agent; Valerie Robinette, Pike County Nutrition Education Program Assistant; Nicole Gwishiri, Bath County FCS Agent; Jordan Crain, Green County FCS Agent; Jill Butler Harris, Todd County FCS Agent; Debbie Shepherd, Casey County FCS Agent; Debbie Messenger, Cumberland County FCS Agent; Anna Cox McCoy, Fulton County FCS Agent; Melissa Goodman, Hickman County FCS Agent; Linda Combs, Knott County FCS Agent; Nanette Banks, Letcher County FCS Agent; Angie York, Lyon County FCS Agent; Nellie Buchanan, Morgan County FCS Agent; Natasha Lucas, District 1 Director; Cabrina Buckman, Washington County FCS Agent; Mary Beth Riley, Muhlenberg County FCS Agent; Tiffany Calvert, Ohio County FCS Agent; Amy Kostelic, Associate Extension Professor; and Erin Yelland, Assistant Extension Professor (Kansas State University).
- 2nd place Communications - Internet Education Technology: Mandi Broderick, Lewis County FCS Agent honoring her Lewis County Walking Challenge program.
- 3rd Place Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Team Award: Thays Flores, former Estill County FCS Agent and Nicole Gwishiri, Bath County FCS Agent in recognition of their program, Cooking Around the World.
- 3rd place Innovations in Programming Award: Linda Combs, Knott County FCS Agent, honoring the Get Healthy Knott County program.
- 3rd place Marketing Package Award: Kayla Watts, Breathitt County FCS Agent in recognition for her marketing package for the Test and Win program.