Purdue News

December 12, 1997

4-H curriculum specialist receives 1997 Sharvelle Award

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Susan J. Barkman, a 4-H curriculum specialist with the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, received the Eric G. Sharvelle Distinguished Service Specialist Award for 1997 at the annual Extension conference Tuesday (12/9).

"Susan Barkman has been an innovative and very creative Extension specialist," said H.A. Wadsworth, director of Purdue Extension. "Her background in instructional design and development has helped Indiana 4-H reach hundreds of thousands of youths through after-school and classroom enrichment programs."

Much of Barkman's work has centered around food science and nutrition education for teens and children, and prevention programs for youth at risk for juvenile delinquency and education problems.

"Susan is a national expert in the development of teaching materials for youth," said Bob Ritchie, acting head of Purdue's Department of 4-H/Youth. "She not only creates excellent educational materials, but she also serves on a team that determines whether it meets the criteria to be included in the national 4-H curricula."

Barkman's contributions include:

Developing materials that have taught thousands of children more about proper nutrition and food. She led a team that developed and Indiana 4-H Foods and Nutrition program that has been adopted by 17 other states.
Creating educational enrichment materials such as "Space Station Indiana," which has been shown to help students improve grades in math and science.
Working with research and Extension faculty to create programs of lasting impact. One example is the "Have a Healthy Baby" program, which teaches proper nutrition to expectant mothers and prevents the problems and costs associated with low-birthweight babies.
Securing more than $1.5 million in grants to fund programs in science literacy, health education and juvenile diversion programs.
Chairing the National 4-H Strategic Directions Team, which is developing a strategic plan for the national 4-H program.

Barkman also has been on the board of directors of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, was president of the Northern Indiana chapter of the National Society for Performance and Instruction, and belongs to the National Peer Helpers Association and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

The award is given each year in memory of Eric Sharvelle, a professor of botany and plant pathology at Purdue. The award was established in 1985 by Dr. Derek and Sybil Sharvelle of Battle Ground.

Extension program for young fathers recognized

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- "It's My Child Too," a parenting program for young fathers whose children may be at risk, was awarded the Ann Hancook Educator/Specialist Award during the 1997 annual conference of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

The curriculum for "It's My Child Too" includes modules on several topics, including fathers' roles, child behavior, crying, diapering and bathing, nutrition, immunizations, stress, and parent cooperation. There are teaching teams in 33 counties, and each team includes an Extension educator and an agency representative.

Participants have rated the program beneficial and demonstrated an increased understanding of fatherhood roles, responsibilities and behaviors.

Educators who helped develop the program are: Jim Jordan, Porter County ; David Caldwell, Fayette County ; and Richard Rusk, Cass County . The specialists involved in its development are: Douglas Powell, head of the Department of Child Development and Family Studies; Maurie Kramer (now retired) and Pam Robbins, Department of 4-H Youth; and Janet Gordon, Central District.

The Hancook Award is presented annually in honor of Ann Hancook, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service program leader who died in 1993, to honor Extension educators and specialists who jointly create programs focusing on families. It's sponsored by the Indiana Extension Educators Association, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Specialists Association, and the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Purdue Extension organizations elect officers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service associations and one honorary installed new officers during the annual Extension Service conference Dec. 9-11 at Purdue. The organizations and their officers are:

Indiana Extension Educators Association (IEAA) -- Maureen Cook, Miami County 4-H youth educator, president; Valynnda Slack, Whitely County Extension director, vice president; Mike Ferree, Henry County Extension director, treasurer; Carol Turner, Vigo County consumer and family sciences educator, secretary; and Ralph Booker, Marshall County Extension director, past president.

Presidents of associations within IEEA are:

Consumer and Family Sciences Association -- Natalie Fowler, consumer and family sciences educator, Dearborn County.
4-H/Youth Association -- James Jordan, 4-H/youth educator, Porter County.
Agricultural and Community Development Association -- Robert McCormick, Howard County Extension director.

The new officers of Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Indiana chapter of the national honorary Extension fraternity, are: Tom Jordan, Purdue Extension weed science specialist, president; Alan Ader, Parke County Extension director, vice president; Linda Garringer, Grant County Extension director, past president; Susan Trutner, Franklin County Extension director, secretary/treasurer; and Floyd Branson, assistant director of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, annalist.

The new officers of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Specialists Association are: Al Heber, Extension specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, president; Linda Mason, Extension specialist in the Department of Entomology, president-elect; Natalie Carroll, 4-H Youth specialist, secretary; Karen Rane, Botany and Plant Pathology specialist, treasurer; and Alice Blume, 4-H Youth specialist, past president.

CONTACT: Floyd Branson (765) 494-8490

Extension staff earn tenure awards

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Tenure-award winners were recognized at the annual Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Conference, held Dec. 9-11 on the Purdue campus.

Recipients of the 1997 U.S. Department of Agriculture Tenure Award are:

Thirty years -- Howard Doster, Department of Agricultural Economics; John Forrest, Department of Animal Sciences; Paul Friend, Steuben County ; Larry Nelson, Department of Animal Sciences; Nancy Schuman, Johnson County ; and Joseph Yahner, Department of Agronomy.

Twenty years -- John Beach, Greene County ; Harold Doremire, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil Conservation; Dan Dunten, Tippecanoe County ; William Field, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Genise Huey, Posey County ; Rolla Parsons, Huntington County ; Mark Spelbring, Parke and Vermillion counties ; Thomas Springstun, Scott County ; G. Srinivasan, Shelby County ; Jamie Sukala, Dekalb County; Nancy Wagner, Fountain County ; and Jan Wahl, Daviess County .

Receiving the 1997 School of Agriculture Tenure Certificate were:

Thirty years -- Paul Friend, Steuben County , and Nancy Schuman, Johnson County .

Twenty-five years -- Carolyn Gordon, Southeast District; Jeff Moore, Gibson County ; Leanna Richardson, Floyd County ; and Carol Turner, Vigo County .

Twenty years -- John Beach, Greene County ; Dan Dunten, Tippecanoe County ; Genise Huey, Posey County ; Thomas Springstun, Scott County ; Jamie Sukala, Dekalb County ; Nancy Wagner, Fountain County ; and Jan Wahl, Daviess County .

Fifteen years -- Linda Aldridge, Huntington County ; James Barbour, Marion County ; Susan Berg, Monroe County ; Jeff Burbrink, Elkhart County ; Catherine Burkett, Rush County ; Rick Chase, Johnson County ; Mike Ferree, Henry County ; W. Phil Gordon, Elkhart County; Jeff Holland, Monroe County ; James Jordan, Porter County ; Daniel Kirtley, Randolph County ; Chris Parker, Morgan County ; Connie Pfefferkorn, Steuben County ; and Mary Jo Robinson, Orange County .

Ten years -- Richard Beckort, Jackson County ; John Ewart, Dearborn County ; Charles Felkner, Monroe County ; Jan Markley, Wayne County ; Rae Ann O'Neill, Blackford County ; Corinne Powell, Lake County ; Diane Stouffer, Vigo County ; and Barb Thuma, Allen County .

Indiana Extension Educators Association (IEEA) Tenure Award recipients are:

Twenty-five years -- Carolyn Miner, Delaware County ; Dick Reel, LaPorte County ; Virginia Servies, Montgomery County ; and Alice Sink, Parke County .

Fifteen years -- Linda Aldridge, Huntington County; James Barbour, Marion County ; Rick Chase, Johnson County ; Mary Lou Elbert, Warrick County ; Mike Ferree, Henry County ; W. Phil Gordon, Elkhart County ; James Jordan, Porter County ; Daniel Kirtley, Randolph County ; and James Woolf, Tipton County .

Sources: H. A. Wadsworth, (765) 494-8489
Susan Barkman (765) 494-8423
Bob Ritchie, (765) 494-8439
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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