Each year the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANR) celebrates the
outstanding contributions and accomplishments of its students, staff, and faculty at the annual spring
awards banquet. This year’s awards were handed out at a the CFANR Outdoor Picnic at the Clippert
Forest Resources Annex.
“Student awards were based on faculty votes of student performance in terms of academic
performance as well as their fellowship with student peers,” said Dean Michael Blazier. “Faculty awards
were based on teaching, research, and service to CFANR. The junior faculty award was given to a faculty
member at the assistant professor rank. The senior faculty award was given to a professor at the
associate professor or professor rank.” The college continues its tradition of recognizing award winners.
“We are blessed with consistent quality and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff said
Blazier. This is what defines our college, and that is why we recognize individuals for their commitment
to excellence.”
This year, CFANR award recipients are:
Outstanding Undergraduate Students
Minimum criteria to be eligible for this award includes the completion of 90 or more credit hours, and
an overall GPA of 3.25 or greater. The award focuses on academic excellence as well as leadership,
service, and other personal characteristics and qualities. Names of the students meeting the minimum
criteria are distributed to CFANR faculty, and the faculty make the final selection.
Honorees are:
Mallory Kilcrease – Hamburg, Ark – Agriculture -Animal Science
Cole Whiteaker – Melbourne, Ark – Land Surveying
Zach Cater – Monticello, Ark – Natural Resources Management w/Geospatial Science option
Brett Cunningham – Palmer, Texas – Overall Undergraduate- Natural Resources Management w/ Forestry
option.
Outstanding Graduate Students
The recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Certificate and Master of Science Student Awards are
selected through a poll of CFANR faculty. Faculty use a variety of criteria, including academic excellence,
work ethic and leadership.
The honorees are:
Katherine Allen – New Roads, Louisiana- Graduate Certificate- Waterfowl, Habitat and Rec. Management
Tyler Corbin- Conway, Ark-Master of Science- Forest Resources
Faculty Excellence in Research Awards
The Faculty Excellence Awards recognizes exemplary contributions in research, teaching, and service for
CFANR faculty.
The Senior Faculty Excellence award is awarded to faculty at the Associate and Professor ranks; this
year’s honoree is:
Dr. Ben Babst, Associate Professor of Forest Ecology and Tree Ecophysiology
The Junior Faculty Excellence Award is awarded to faculty at the Assistant Professor rank, and this year’s
honoree is:
Dr. Rocky Lindsey, Assistant Professor of Animal Science
Support Staff Excellence Award
The Support Staff Excellence Award recognizes an individual for notable and outstanding contributions
to the success of the College, such as innovative problem-solving and personal growth in their
appointment. The honoree is:
Lon Tegels, Communications Director
Blazier says he and the College extend their congratulations to each of its award recipients.
Each honoree will receive an engraved award as recognition.
About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest
Resources Center
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources
Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, bring together interdisciplinary
expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are
headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range
statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research and extension
programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural
resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of
Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by
the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are
coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.