Cooperative Extension Program - Prairie View A&M University

March 27, 2009
Innovative Programming Recognized at State Extension Conference

The 2009 State Extension Training Conference, held March 24-27 in Austin, Texas, featured three individuals who were awarded for developing and delivering outstanding and innovative programs to Prairie View A&M University’s Cooperative Extension Program clientele. Dr. Crystal Wiltz, Ms. Gail Long and Dr. Woodrow Jones received this year’s Innovative Program Delivery Award.

“Our State Extension Training Conference is held annually to equip our headquarters and county staffs with the tools needed to help them become more proficient and efficient in delivering educational programs to our Extension clientele, who are located in 30 counties across Texas,” said Dr. Nelson Daniels, associate administrator. “We also award those persons who go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are participating in educational programs that help them improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Crystal Wiltz, Extension agent, Family and Consumer Sciences--Travis County, received the award in the “Best Newsletter” category for delivering current information on the Diabetes Education Awareness Prevention (DEAP) Project to help at-risk audiences increase their level of understanding about risk factors for diabetes.

Ms. Gail Long, program specialist - 4-H & Youth Development, received the award in the “Outstanding Support” category for the work that she has done in the Engaging Youth, Serving Community Project (EYSC). Long provided support to the Extension county staff in Burleson, Fort Bend, Grimes, Marion and Washington counties to conduct the EYSC Project, which helps youth develop leadership and life skills to enable them to work in partnership with adults to improve their lives and the communities in which they live.

Dr. Woodrow Jones, founder of Project RESPECT (Restoration, Enhancement, Stabilization, Protection, Evaluation, Creation, Technology), received the Innovative Program Delivery Award in the “Friend of Extension” category. Through Dr. Jones’ efforts, youth in Harris County, who participate in Cooperative Extension’s 4-H clubs, projects and activities, have learned about new technology, e.g., using GIS and GPS in mapping their communities, and have become more aware of the need to preserve neglected and abandoned African American and Hispanic cemeteries.

Several Cooperative Extension Program staff received Certificates of Service for the years of service that they have been employed with the program. The following persons were recognized:

Five Years
Jimmy Henry – Extension agent – Community and Economic Development
Jernard McCray – Extension agent – 4-H & Youth – Waller County
Kenneth McCullough – Extension agent – Agriculture and Natural Resources – Waller County

Ten Years
LaVaughn Mosley – Recruiter

Fifteen Years
Patrice Barnes – Extension agent – 4-H & Youth – Bexar County

“We are certainly proud of the award winners and were also pleased with the subject matter training that was provided at our 2009 State Extension Training Conference,” said Dr. Freddie L. Richards, dean, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and administrator of the Cooperative Extension Program.

Training topics included: Employee Performance Evaluation Process; Monthly Reports; Evaluation and Interpretation; Communications Update; 4-H & Youth Update and Passenger Safety.

Each program area; Agriculture and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H & Youth Development, Fiscal, Communications and Office Management also held individual workshops for county and headquarters staffs.

For more information about the 2009 State Extension Training Conference, contact Dr. Nelson Daniels, 936/261-5112, ntdaniels@tamu.edu.

Visit the Cooperative Extension Program Photo Gallery for more highligts of the 2009 State Extension Training Conference.

Writer: Gloria J. Mosby, Program Director – Communications
Photo by: Sabrina Simon