UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s Dairy Science Club received national recognition when it was named the Outstanding Chapter at the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)/American Society of Animal Science Student Affiliate Division annual meetings July 8-12 in Indianapolis. The award is based on an annual report of chapter activities, participation in the ADSA Student Affiliate Division, club publications and website.
The Dairy Science Club and individual members were recognized in other competitions:
— The club Web site, www.clubs.psu.edu/up/dairyscienceclub, coordinated by Jennifer Royer, of Elizabethtown, placed first.
— The Penn State Dairyman yearbook edited by Sara Dorward, of Lehighton, earned second place.
— LeeAnn Kapanick, of Meadville, placed second in the Dairy Foods Undergraduate Presentation Contest with her talk, “Innovations in milk packaging.”
— Dakota Grove, of Chambersburg, competed in the Dairy Production Undergraduate Presentation Contest with his talk, “Effects of Group Housing and Pairing Calves Before Weaning.”
— “Isaac Haagen, of Howard, competed in the Original Research Undergraduate Presentation Contest. His topic was “Association of Telomere Length and Body Weight in Lactating Holsteins.”
— Victoria Bem, of Union City; Dakota Grove; Jared Risser, of Bainbridge; and Ariel Taxdal, of Bel Air, Md., competed in the dairy quiz bowl contest.
Terry Etherton, head of the Department of Animal Science, said, “The national recognition for our outstanding Dairy Science Club is richly deserved and an extraordinary honor. It is an acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication to excellence throughout the year, and of the strong support of our committed and caring faculty. Congratulations to those who excelled in Indianapolis and to the entire club.”
Students were accompanied by club advisers Dale Olver and Chad Dechow.
In addition to participating in the contests, students attended business meetings, a career symposium and the awards luncheon, and attended oral and poster sessions presented by professional members of the organization.
The students attended the meetings as members of the American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate Division (ADSA-SAD). The ADSA-SAD is a division of the parent organization that works to develop leadership and promote scholarship among students interested in the dairy industry, and to encourage students toward careers in dairy science. There are more than 500 undergraduate student members in ADSA.