Awards Banquet Highlights CASNR Week Activities

April 16, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. — The 15th annual CASNR Week awards banquet, which took place April 12 at the Nebraska Union, honored students, faculty, staff and alumni in UNL's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. 

The event was planned, organized and executed by CASNR students. "Without the efforts of student volunteers and committee chairs, the event would not be possible," said Karen Jackson, CASNR Week Program Council adviser. 

Jackson received the award for outstanding staff member during the banquet.

Alissa Martindale, a junior animal science major from Gretna, was honored as the Gamma Sigma Delta outstanding undergraduate student. Gamma Sigma Delta is the honor society of agriculture. Martindale spoke during the banquet, providing a student perspective on the state of CASNR. 

"CASNR is a very personable college and I think it's great they take time to recognize the hard work that's happening,” she said. "The banquet is a nice way to interact and associate with faculty and peers.”

In addition to the awards given to current students, faculty and staff, the CASNR Alumni Association presented four honors. 

> Jack Schinstock, emeritus professor of biological systems engineering, received the Service Award. Schinstock was also an associate dean in CASNR. 

> Roger Mandigo, emeritus professor of animal science, earned the Legacy Award. Mandigo has been recognized numerous times by the American Meat Science Association and in 2011 he was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.

> Rob Robinson received the Achievement Award. Robinson received his bachelor of science in agronomy from UNL in 1978. He is CEO and owner of Rob-See-Co, LLC, a sales and distribution company focused on the Innotech brand of hybrid corn and soybean seed for the western half of the U.S. Corn Belt. 

> The Department of Animal Science received the Engagement of Emeriti Faculty Award. The department works closely to engage emeriti in annual events including alumni reunions.

CASNR alumni have the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on campus through the CASNR Alumni Brick Program. Two brick sizes are available for engraving and bricks will be installed in the Legacy Courtyard, between Agricultural Hall and the Home Economics building on East Campus. Learn more at www.nufoundation.org/casnrbuyabrick

The banquet kicked off a week of events organized to celebrate CASNR, which began as Agriculture and Natural Resources Week in 2000.

A blood drive with the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, free lunch at the Nebraska East Union and a Community Night were other featured events. Community Night was a free event for Lincoln residents featuring educational displays, live animals, games and food. Students from 21 schools in the Lincoln Public School system attended the event. 

CASNR Week will conclude with the 57th annual UNL Rodeo April 17-18 at the Lancaster Event Center. Earlier in the week, Gov. Pete Ricketts, joined by members of the UNL Rodeo Team, proclaimed April 12-18 as "Rodeo Week" in Nebraska. 

Rodeo tickets start at $10 and are available at http://lancastereventcenter.com. General admission tickets are also available at Lincoln's Fort Western store, 5601 S. 56th St. UNL students will be able to purchase tickets for $5 at the door.

Next year's CASNR Week has been scheduled for April 9-16, with the awards banquet April 10.