Four Graduates Honored at TailGATOR back to newsletter
Chuck Woods, Associate Professor, IFAS External and Media Relations
From left: R. Kirby Barrick, Dean; Mason Smoak, Horizon Award; W. Bernard "Bernie" Lester, Award of Distinction; Anita Dhople, Horizon Award; Frank “Sonny” Williamson, Award of Distinction; Roger Scarborough, President of CALS Alumni and Friends; and Jimmy Cheek, Sr. V.P. for Agriculture and Natural Resources. |
Anita Dhople, Atlanta, Ga., and Mason Smoak, Lake Placid, Fla., received the Horizon Award from the college’s Alumni and Friends organization for their contributions to agriculture, natural resources and the life sciences. Bernie Lester, Labelle, Fla., and Frank “Sonny” Williamson, Okeechobee, Fla., received the organization’s Award of Distinction for their contributions to UF and the agricultural and natural resource industries.
The awards were presented Nov. 5 by Roger Scarborough, president of Alumni and Friends, and R. Kirby Barrick, dean of the college, during the college’s annual “Tail Gator” event prior to the UF-Vanderbilt football game in Gainesville.
Dr. Anita A. Dhople, who earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in food science and human nutrition in 1992 and a Doctor of Medicine degree from UF’s College of Medicine in 1996, is now director of the Hospitalist Program at the Phoebe Putney Medical Group and staff internist with the Piedmont Medical Group in Atlanta.
Dhople, who strives to make healthcare accessible to the disadvantaged, began her career with a nonprofit community healthcare center and has served as adjunct clinical instructor in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. She is active in professional development and holds membership in several organizations, including the Medical Association of Georgia, the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association. She has published seven professional articles and volunteered as a member of a medical team that provided health care in India.
Mason Smoak received his bachelor’s degree in food and resource economics in 1997. Upon graduation, he returned to his family’s third-generation citrus and cattle operation in Lake Placid, where he manages harvesting and hauling operations for 2,300 acres of citrus.
He is active in industry organizations and programs, including service on the board of directors of the Florida Farm Bureau and as president of the Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Team and of the Highlands County Farm Bureau. He completed a program at UF’s Wedgeworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources and serves as secretary of the Alpha Gamma Rho Education Foundation. Mason also serves on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for South Florida Community College, and he was a founding member of the board of directors for the Highlands County Ag Venture program for elementary school students.
Bernie Lester received his bachelor’s degree in 1961 and his master’s degree in 1962 in food and resource economics, and completed his doctoral degree in agricultural economics at Texas A&M University. Lester’s 40-year career includes service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Citrus and Alico Inc. in Labelle. He retired from the company this year as president and chief executive officer.
Lester’s contributions to agriculture and Florida education include faculty service at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and service on numerous boards and councils. He has been recognized for outstanding achievements by many organizations, including the Florida Association of County Agents, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Gamma Sigma Delta.
Frank “Sonny” Williamson received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UF in 1950. Upon graduation, he partnered with his father on a ranch. Since then, the Williamson Cattle Company has developed into a family business, which produces cattle and citrus in Okeechobee, and cattle and catfish in Greensboro, Ala.
Williamson has a distinguished history of civic engagement and support of the agriculture industry. He has served on several boards and councils including UF’s SHARE (Special Help for Agricultural Research and Education) Council, the Florida chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation.
He also works to improve the lives of others through Okeechobee Non-Profit Housing Inc., which provides education, counseling and low-cost housing to migrant workers. A member of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, Williamson has been recognized for his many achievements by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gamma Sigma Delta, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents.
Larson, Dairy Industry Leader, Honored by $1.5 Million Endowment
Chuck Woods, Associate Professor, IFAS External and Media Relations
Louis E. “Red” Larson’s longtime leadership in Florida’s dairy industry is being recognized by his four
Thanks to a generous gift from the sons and daughters of Louis “Red” Larson, the dairy science building at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Gainesville will now be known as the L.E. “Red” Larson Dairy Science Building. |
children, who are establishing three endowments at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
The $1.5 million gift, announced Nov. 5 at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ annual “TailGATOR” rally prior to the Florida- Vanderbilt football game in Gainesville, has prompted UF officials to name a building in Larson’s honor. UF’s dairy science building will now be known as the L.E. “Red” Larson Dairy Science Building.
In announcing the endowments and building dedication, Jimmy Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, thanked the Larson family for the generous gift and said it will enhance teaching, research and extension programs in dairy science and the 4-H Youth Development Program.
“The Larson children, with deep roots in Florida agriculture and strong family ties, have chosen to honor their dad in a very special way,” Cheek said. “Red Larson and his wife, Reda, are the proud parents of four children – Woody, Barbara, Kathy and John – who have chosen to make a significant gift in their father’s honor. Thanks to their generosity, three separate endowments are being established in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.”
The sons, John Larson and Woody Larson, operate their own dairy farm businesses in Okeechobee. The daughters, Kathy Cooley and Barbara Stuart, reside in Ocala and Orlando, respectively.
A $300,000 gift will create an endowment to support teaching, research and extension programs, and a $200,000 gift will create an endowment to support UF’s statewide 4-H Youth Dev
A $1 million gift will create an endowment to provide support for the Faculty Challenge Initiative, which will provide support for faculty and students in the animal sciences department.
The initiative, which was announced last year by UF President Bernie Machen, aims to raise $150 million to meet the demands of educating Florida’s growing population and make UF one of the nation’s premier research universities.
Red Larson, owner and president of Larson Dairy Inc. in Okeechobee, Fla., has been a dairy farmer for more than 57 years. His farm covers 10,000 acres and includes more than 6,000 cows that produce 45,000 gallons of milk daily.
In October, Larson received the Southeast Farmer of the Year Award at the annual Lancaster- Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Ga. The southeast region includes farmers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. His other honors include being elected to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, Dairy Hall of Fame and Alumni of Distinction in UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and being named Dairyman of the Century.
Student Receives CALS Alumni and Friends Scholarship
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The CALS Alumni and Friends organization raises funds through special events and activities to support a student scholarship. The scholarship recognizes outstanding students pursuing a degree in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the selection is made on the basis of academic excellence, leadership potential, and character.
Matthew Fournier, a microbiology and cell science student from Bradenton, FL, was selected as the 2005-2006 scholarship recipient. Matthew, a transfer student from Manatee Community College, hopes to attend dental school after completing a bachelor's degree. He currently serves as a CALS Ambassador, representing the college to prospective students and alumni, and working to increase awareness about the agriculture, natural resource and life science industries.
After 50 Years Grand Guarders Return to Campus
Tom Nordlie, IFAS Public Relations Writer
Ten members of the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ class of 1955 were recently inducted into the UF Grand Guard, a society of alumni who have marked at least 50 years since graduation.
The event took place during Grand Guard Reunion 2005, a campus-wide event held Nov. 3-5. The new inductees were joined by 10 CALS and three School of Forest Resources and Conservation alumni from previous graduating classes, ranging from 1936 to 1954.
Highlights of the weekend included luncheon/college showcase events held Friday, Nov. 4. The CALS event, attended by 30 participants, included a tour of the packaging science facilities and a talk given by a CALS ambassador about what it’s like to be a CALS student in 2005. The SFRC event, attended by six participants, included a trip to the Austin Carey Memorial Forest northeast of Gainesville. Other Grand Guard activities included an archive display, campus tour, receptions, meals, memories and the Florida-Vanderbilt football game.
Inductee Bruce Christmas said the weekend was a memorable one. “I had a chance to visit with a couple of my classmates, Bob Woodward and Drane Smith. I also saw several other friends from the past, some of whom I had not seen during the 50-year period,” Christmas said. “I was very thankful to have the opportunity to reach this milestone and am hopeful that I might experience many more.”
2005 CALS
Grand Guard Inductees
Bruce Christmas
Jerry DeCubellis
Herb Dunlap
Fred Harden
Pete Howell
Tonquin Gaines LaGrone
George Lambeth
Drane Smith
Wayne Van Netta
Bob Woodward
Career Resources for Alumni
Looking for a Job? Want to Hire Qualified Candidates for Your Organization?
CALS is happy to announce the start of an alumni job bank for graduates of the college seeking employment at all levels. The job bank, located at www.cals.ufl.edu/alumnijobs, is searchable by geographic location, job type and keyword. Alumni may also submit information about jobs and internships appropriate for students or alumni.
Alumni Career Links:
CALS Alumni Job Bank (search and submissions)
CALS Career Expo
(February 8 2006)
CALS Career Resource Newsletter
UF Alumni Association
UF Career Resource Center
Alumni Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in becoming an alumni volunteer?Alumni volunteers can focus their efforts in areas that help the college and schools connect with their alumni through special events and enhance the current student experience through mentoring, speaking in classes, or recruiting new students. CALSAF also has opportunities associated with the following member committees: alumni programming, student affairs and finance.
If you would like to serve as an alumni volunteer, please complete the volunteer form or call (352) 392-2251.
Ankumah Selected as CALSAF Leadership Award Recipient
The CALS Alumni and Friends organization selected Nana-Ama Ankumah as the recipient of the 2005 Leadership Award, which recognizes a student for outstanding leadership, involvement in the college and university, and support of the agriculture, natural resource and life science industries.
Nana is a senior from Auburn, Alabama double majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science and Spanish. She currently serves as the president of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science, of which she has been a member since 2002 and held many other leadership positions. Nana enjoys her service as a Florida Cicerone, giving campus tours to prospective students and hosting alumni events. She is also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and Internal Affairs Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students.
Nana is described by Chris Holyoak, her academic advisor, as smart, articulate, determined, competent, and witty. Nana uses those qualities to better the lives of others. She has tutored elementary school students weekly since the fall of 2003, volunteers at Shands Hospital, and serves as a mentor to her peers.
Nana balances her outstanding leadership activities while excelling academically. She is a participant in the CALS Upper-Division Honors Program and a research intern in plant physiology and genetics through the National Science Foundation’s Research, Education and Outreach Program. She has participated in a study abroad program in Mexico and completed the Summer Medical Education Program at Yale University in the summer of 2004.
Nana is not only recognized as a leader among her peers, but also by faculty. Dr. Karen Koch, said that “Nana is a truly outstanding student, and one of the most promising young people we have had in our program for many years. She has a unique combination of intellect, talents and personal qualities that will allow her to make invaluable contributions throughout her lifetime. “