Three faculty members in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University Drs. Thomas J. Monaco, Roy A. Larson, and Frank A. Blazich have been honored by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). This international organization has more than 4,500 members, including research scientists, educators and other professional horticulturists from the United States and more than 100 other countries.
Thomas J. Monaco, professor and department head, has been named a Fellow in the 33rd annual class of the ASHS. Monaco is known nationally as an expert in horticultural weed control. He and his graduate students have published more than 65 articles in refereed journals. He has been recognized by several prestigious societies for his contributions to teaching, research and service. Election as a Fellow of the society is the highest honor that the ASHS can award to its members for contributions to the society and to horticulture. The total number of Fellows of the society cannot exceed 10 percent of the eligible membership.
Roy A. Larson, professor emeritus, has received the Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award for distinguished contributions to undergraduate education in horticultural science. Larson has been involved in many national organizations that strongly support education, including the Society of American Florists' Education Committee. The climax of Larson's career as a teacher occurred in 1995, when the North Carolina Commercial Flower Growers' Association established the Roy. A. Larson Floriculture Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Frank A. Blazich, professor, has received the society's Outstanding Graduate Educator Award for distinguished contributions to graduate education in horticultural science. During the past 18 or more years, Blazich has developed a research program specializing in the propagation and culture of woody landscape plants. His research has supported the nursery industry on state, regional and national levels and has been equally beneficial to nursery operators in other countries.