Efforts in resource development of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were celebrated in April during the joint luncheon of the North Carolina Agricultural, Dairy and Tobacco Foundations. That’s when the College’s North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc. presented its 2003 Resource Development Awards to two current faculty members, a retired faculty member and a student organization. At the same time two donors presented checks to the College, while a third benefactor received special recognition. Dr. Johnny Wynne, then associate dean of the College and director of the N.C. Agricultural Research Service, presided.

Winners of the Faculty Resource Development Awards were Dr. James E. Easley, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE), and Dr. Thomas J. Monaco, then head of the Department of Horticultural Science.

Nominated by Dr. Jon Brandt, ARE Department head, Easley was recognized for spearheading the effort to recruit funding and pledges in excess of $140,000 for a graduate fellowship for students in his department. He also works with the department’s undergraduate scholarship fund-raising team.

Monaco, nominated by his Horticultural Science colleague Dr. Sylvia Blankenship, was instrumental in the establishment of endowments in support of research and extension in the College from the N.C. Blueberry Council, the N.C. Association of Nurserymen and the N.C. Sweet Potato Commission. Monaco and his wife, Virginia, also created their own named fellowship endowment for diversity in his department.

The Retired Faculty Resource Development Award was presented to Dr. Thomas L. Quay, professor emeritus of zoology, who was nominated by the College’s Foundations Office.

A world-renowned ornithologist who holds the distinction of having received one of the first two Ph.D. degrees awarded at N.C. State, Quay has helped his former department raise more than $60,000 in endowment and enhancement funds. He continues to work for the College’s alumni programs and to advance the study of wildlife and natural resources conservation.

The Agribusiness/NAMA (National Agribusiness Marketing Association) Club was the 2003 Student Organization Award winner. Jennifer Gasque, club president, and Minthie Snipes, club treasurer, accepted the award along with their club adviser, Dr. Guido van der Hoeven. The club was honored for its efforts in raising $5,000 to support scholarships, marketing team travel to national competitions, meals and member attendance at monthly professional NAMA chapter meetings.

Two check presentations also took place during these ceremonies.

Fred Burt, who, with his wife Shirley, created the Lt. Colonel Fred W. and Shirley C. Burt Agricultural Scholarship Endowment, presented a check for $15,000, completing their pledge to the endowment. The Burt Endowment is to be used to provide merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students enrolled in any traditional agriculture program in the College. Scholarship recipients must be planning to return to their family farms after graduation.

Next the Carolina Feed Industry Association (CFIA) presented the College $20,000 for the CFIA Endowment in the N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc. This endowment supports scholarships for students in the College’s new Feed Mill Technology minor program.

Bonnie Holloman, CFIA executive secretary, and Sherry McComas, College alumna and member of the CFIA and Ag Foundation boards, presented the check to Wynne.

Another moment of celebration came when Wynne gave special recognition to Col. Bill Breeze, who was in attendance at the luncheon. Breeze had just completed the gift of one of his Orange County farms, which will provide a 168-acre site for permanent use by the College, and a $820,000 charitable remainder trust that will fund agricultural, research and extension activities on the farm.

— Terri Leith