SHREVEPORT – The Louisiana Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences presented awards and installed officers at their recent annual conference. The LSU AgCenter organization chose for its theme this year, Lights, Camera, Action! Focus on Louisiana Families.
Awards were given in 11 categories. The recipients and their parishes were:
Written Press Release—first, Margaret Burlew, Terrebonne; second, Deniese Zeringue, St. Charles; third, Sheri R. Fair, Assumption.
Educational Technology Communications—first, Zeringue; second, Dianne Glasgow, Caddo.
Educational Publication—first, Zeringue.
Extension Housing Outreach—Margaret Burlew and Michele Starks for Bon Jovi Village. Starks is not a member of the organization. The Extension Housing Outreach award is presented for outstanding housing educational programs conducted for families and/or communities. In her application Burlew said, “New and potential homeowners in Habitat for Humanity’s Bon Jovi Village are required to complete financial classes to maintain their residence in the village. Participants receive hours of sweat equity for attending the classes focusing on setting goals, budgeting, managing credit, saving for the future and wise shopping techniques.”
Betty Jane Fairchild Award—Sharman J. Charles, East Baton Rouge. The purpose of this award is to honor Betty Jane Hodgkins Fairchild, the first female to hold the title of assistant director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
Program Excellence Through Research—Team award to Dr. Beth Reames, state office; Alexis Navarro, Jefferson; Dr. Sally Soileau, East Baton Rouge; Terri Crawford, Northeast region; Bertina McGhee, Orleans; Sheila Haynes, West Carroll; Berteal Rogers, Madison; Deshoin Friendship, Southern University AgCenter in Baton Rouge; Dr. David Bankston, Dr. Georgianna Tuuri and Dr. Mike Keenan, all from the state office; Katie Dean, Dr. Melissa Mixon and Easter Tucker. Dean, Tucker and Mixon are not LEAFCS members.
Maxine Reeves Award – Cathryn Robinson, Caddo. The purpose of this award is to honor Maxine Reeves, a past state and national president who was working in LaSalle Parish at the time of her retirement in 1980. This award recognizes professional development in NEAFCS.
Dean Don Felker Financial Management Award – first, Deborah Cross, Iberville, and Fair and second, Burlew and Starks. This award is given to an FCS educator who has developed an outstanding program on some aspect of family financial management.
Continued Excellence awards – Louise McDonald, Caddo, and Cross. They were recognized for active involvement in professional improvement programs, promotion of professional development and leadership.
Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Award—first, Cross and Monica Olinde, Point Coupee; second, Burlew and Starks. They were recognized for outstanding efforts and accomplishments in diversity and pluralism.
Distinguished Service Award—Zeringue. This is the highest award presented by National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The award recognizes members for leadership, educational program efforts and professional development. The awards are voted on by the membership. Zeringue will be recognized at the NEAFCS Conference in Indianapolis in September.
The recipient has attended two national conferences and won several awards in the Louisiana association. She started giving educational food and nutrition biweekly classes to Head Start students and teachers in her domicile parish.
“You work so hard to give of yourselves and are so well-deserving of the accolades you get,” said Ellen Murphy, associate director of the LSU School of Human Ecology.
“Somewhere when you least expect it in the crowd someone will call your name and thank you,” said Cindy Richard, president.
Officers installed are Richard, Calcasieu, president; Danna Gillett, Richland, president-elect; Beth Gambel, Jefferson, vice president of public affairs; Adrianne Vidrine, Acadia, vice president of professional development; Mandy Armentor, Vermilion, vice president of awards and recognition; Ginger Boutwell, Franklin, treasurer; Nikki Lemaire, Lafayette, secretary; Monica Olinde, Pointe Coupee, parliamentarian; Connie Aclin, north regional director; Bertina McGhee, Orleans, southeast regional director; Amy Juneau, St. Mary, southwest regional director; Cathyrn Robinson, Caddo, alternate north regional director; Robin Landry, Assumption, alternate southeast regional director; and Jane Jones, Rapides, alternate southwest regional director.
While in Shreveport, the conference-goers began their meeting at the LSU AgCenter Pecan Station, visited the Louisiana Boardwalk, heard a talk on “Food as Medicine” at LSU Health Sciences Center, toured the Culinary Arts Department at Bossier Parish Community College and learned about the impact of the movie industry and tutoring on the set during an afternoon at Municipal Auditorium.
Tisha Hoaas, who tutors children on the movie sets, was a former 4-H leader at Broadmoor Middle Laboratory School.
As part of its social project, each participant was asked to bring two children’s books for Reach Out and Read, an organization at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport that promotes early literacy by giving books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.
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Contact: Mandy Armentor, (337) 898-4335, marmentor@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer: Mary Ann Van Osdell, (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu