PULLMAN, Wash. — Outstanding students in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics were recognized Saturday at the college’s 38th annual awards banquet.
Erica Traxler, Pullman, was named 1997 Family and Consumer Scientist of the Year. The award recognizes the top senior majoring in family and consumer sciences.
Traxler, a student in the coordinated undergraduate option in general dietetics, was honored as Top Junior in Family and Consumer Sciences a year ago. She is the daughter Connie and Fred Robohn, 3207 E. 65th Ave., Spokane.
Dustin DeVries, Burlington, was named “Aggie of the Year.” The annual award honors the top student majoring in agriculture.
The agribusiness major has maintained a 3.90 GPA at WSU while volunteering in the community, serving on departmental and university committees and in leadership positions of the student Agribusiness- Agricultural Economics Club.
DeVries is the current national president of the student section of the American Agricultural Economics Association.
DeVries is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S. DeVries, 422 Simons Ave. He received an associate of arts degree at Skagit Valley College in 1995 before coming to WSU.
DeVries was also named the outstanding senior majoring in agribusiness.
Traxler and DeVries each received a plaque and have been invited to speak at the college’s commencement ceremonies in May.
Sheri Babb, Cheney, was named the outstanding junior in agriculture and Tracy Bumgarner, Marysville, was named the outstanding junior in family and consumer sciences.
Both students received $500 cash awards from the Capital Press newspaper of Salem, Ore.
Babb, who is studying agricultural molecular genetics and cell biology with a biotechnology option, is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and President’s Honor Roll. She is the daughter of David and Kathleen Babb, 34902 S. Nealey Springs Rd.
Bumgarner, who is majoring in human development, has been on the Dean’s list every semester at WSU and been involved in leadership roles in both the Human Development Student Club and the Family and Consumer Sciences Club.
She attended Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute, Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College before coming to WSU.
Bumgarner is the daughter of Ronald and Ruth Bumgarner, 4303 88th St NE.
Erika Howell, a sophomore from Prosser, was named outstanding freshman for 1996-97.
Howell, agricultural economics major, has been named to the President’s Honor Roll, was named Mortar Board Freshman Scholar and been named to the Phi Eta Sigma national Honor Society.
Howell is the daughter of William and Lynette Howell, Route 3.
Also recognized were 21 seniors (including DeVries) named the most outstanding in their major.
- Tiffany Somers, Johnsontown, Ohio, was named the outstanding senior in agricultural economics. She is the daughter of Sherri Somers, 346 N. Oregon St.
- Jeff Polinder, Lynden, was named the outstanding senior in animal sciences. Polinder is the son of Sherm and Phyllis Polinder, 670 Polinder Rd.
- Amie Menter, Kennewick, was honored as the top senior majoring in apparel, merchandising and textiles. She is the daughter of Linda Brockman, 218406 E. Perkins Rd., Kennewick, and Larry Menter, 6645 E. Sunnyside Rd., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
- Meigan Baker, Chewelah, was named the outstanding senior in interior design. She is the daughter of Bill and Susan Baker.
- Todd Krause, Everett, was named the outstanding senior in biological systems engineering. He is the son of Ben and Sue Krause, 7301 Rivershore Rd.
- Kathryn Klaveano Isler, Pomeroy, was named the outstanding senior in agricultural communications. She is the daughter of Virgil and Cynthia Klaveano, Route 3.
- Kristen Hinton, Mount Vernon, was recognized as the outstanding senior in agricultural education. She is the daughter of Jim and Sharon Hinton, 1553 Gunderson Rd.
- Eric Davis, Ephrata, was honored as the outstanding senior in agricultural technology and management. He is the son of Don and Barb Davis, 256 D. St.
- Scott Dorsing, Othello, was named the outstanding senior in general agriculture. Dorsing is the son of Les and Donna Dorsing, 35450 S.E. 10 Road.
- Chris Kleene, Pullman, was named the outstanding senior in crop science. He is the son of Marvin Kleene, S.W. 225 State St.
- Amanda Moore, McMinnville, Ore., was honored as the top senior in soil science. She is the daughter of Amy Hanes 2181 Chrystal Dr., McMinnville, Ore., and Dan Moore, 695 Foxglove St., S.E., Salem, Ore.
- Christopher Looney, Winter Garden, Fla., was named the outstanding senior in entomology. Looney is the son of Carolyn Hawk Looney, Winter Garden.
- Sarah Nicholson Letos, Liverpool, N.Y., was recognized as the outstanding senior in human nutrition. She is the daughter of Donald and Patricia Nicholson, 4759 Rosemary Lane.
- Stuart Tolman, Cohasset, Mass., was named the outstanding senior majoring in food science. He is the son of Peter and Connie Tolman, Black Horse Lane.
- James Olmstead, Grandview, was recognized as the outstanding senior majoring in horticulture. He is the son of Peter and Patricia Olmstead, 80 Mt. View Rd.
- Crystal Gray, Veradale, was honored as the outstanding senior in human development. She is the daughter of Mary Wright, 1903 S. Keller Rd., Spokane, and James Dunaway, 18506 135th Place SE, Renton.
- Chery Randall, Hoquiam, was named the outstanding senior in wildland recreation. She is the daughter of Charles and Rae Munger, 111 Chenois Creek Rd.
- Kristi Tausch, Port Orchard, was named the outstanding senior in forestry. She is the daughter of Michael and Candice Tausch.
- Marilyn Moberly, Cheney, was named the outstanding senior in wildlife. She is the daughter of Gill and Maureen Moberly, 8408 W. White Rd.
- Emily Smelser, Hoquiam, was honored as the outstanding senior majoring in range management. She is the daughter of Peggy Pickron, Hoquiam, and Ken Smelser, 1324 N.E. Prescott St., Portland. Ore.
Scholarships worth more than $280,000 were awarded at the banquet and the names of 133 students were named to the Dean’s Honor Roll.
– 30 –