Weed Science Society of North Carolina creates endowment in College
Weed Science Society of North Carolina creates endowment in College
Photo by Becky Kirkland
The Weed Science Society of North Carolina (WSSNC) has officially established an endowment to support weed science student activities in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In May 25 ceremonies hosted by College Dean Johnny Wynne, WSSNC president Dr. Reid Evans, superintendent of the N.C. State University Central Crops Research Station, and other officers of the society, along with the College administration, signed an agreement creating a permanent fund to be managed by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc. Students at N.C. State and other in-state colleges and universities with weed science curricula are eligible for awards from the endowment. CALS currently offers a weed science concentration for graduate students in its Crop Science and Horticultural Science departments.
"The intent and purpose of this endowment is to recruit and attract graduate students to weed science," said Dr. Tom Monaco, CALS coordinator of commodity relations, retired head of the Department of Horticultural Science and a founding member of WSSNC.
"This endowment also will be used to fund undergraduate scholarships in crop science and horticulture in CALS and possibly other universities and to provide travel funds for weed science graduate students to go to regional and national weed science professional meetings," he said.
Also participating were WSSNC vice-president Tom McKemie, BASF chemical company; WSSNC secretary/treasurer Dr. Loren Fisher, CALS assistant professor and Extension specialist of crop science; WSSNC board member Glenn Oliver, BASF; WSSNC board graduate student representative Juliana Buckelew, CALS doctoral student in horticultural science; and past WSSNC president Dr. Katie Jennings, CALS research assistant professor of horticultural science.
Jennings and Monaco worked closely with the society to create the endowment.
Dr. Ken Esbenshade, director of CALS Academic Programs, told the WSSNC group, "It's important to put resources in areas you think are important to attract student to study those areas of interests. I thank you on behalf of the many undergraduate students and graduate students that will be touched by this gift."
Wynne added, "We think weed science is very important in our College, and we're happy to accept and steward your gift to benefit students in this area."
The WSSNC was formed to advance the discipline of weed science in North Carolina and improve the well being of the citizens of the state through a better understanding of weeds and their management. Among the society's objectives are to foster and support research, teaching, extension and problem-solving efforts in weed science activities and to promote safe and effective use of herbicides and other weed management technologies.
- Terri Leith
"The intent and purpose of this endowment is to recruit and attract graduate students to weed science," said Dr. Tom Monaco, CALS coordinator of commodity relations, retired head of the Department of Horticultural Science and a founding member of WSSNC.
"This endowment also will be used to fund undergraduate scholarships in crop science and horticulture in CALS and possibly other universities and to provide travel funds for weed science graduate students to go to regional and national weed science professional meetings," he said.
Also participating were WSSNC vice-president Tom McKemie, BASF chemical company; WSSNC secretary/treasurer Dr. Loren Fisher, CALS assistant professor and Extension specialist of crop science; WSSNC board member Glenn Oliver, BASF; WSSNC board graduate student representative Juliana Buckelew, CALS doctoral student in horticultural science; and past WSSNC president Dr. Katie Jennings, CALS research assistant professor of horticultural science.
Jennings and Monaco worked closely with the society to create the endowment.
Dr. Ken Esbenshade, director of CALS Academic Programs, told the WSSNC group, "It's important to put resources in areas you think are important to attract student to study those areas of interests. I thank you on behalf of the many undergraduate students and graduate students that will be touched by this gift."
Wynne added, "We think weed science is very important in our College, and we're happy to accept and steward your gift to benefit students in this area."
The WSSNC was formed to advance the discipline of weed science in North Carolina and improve the well being of the citizens of the state through a better understanding of weeds and their management. Among the society's objectives are to foster and support research, teaching, extension and problem-solving efforts in weed science activities and to promote safe and effective use of herbicides and other weed management technologies.
- Terri Leith