Mary Taylor establishes new endowed scholarship to aid MMBB students

Mary (Branson) Taylor has established a new endowed scholarship, “The Mary Branson Taylor Scholarship,” to support students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.

Taylor grew up in Coeur d’Alene and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Bacteriology. Upon graduation, Taylor decided to pursue a graduate degree. She applied to three different schools; being accepted to all three—she chose the University of Illinois-Urbana in Champagne. After graduating with her M.S. degree she worked and taught at several different universities before landing in Portland to teach microbiology at Portland State College, soon to become Portland State University. For more than 37 years Taylor taught everything from introductory biochemistry classes to guiding many master’s and Ph.D. student theses and dissertations. Her greatest joy has been following the successes of her students over the years.

Taylor created this scholarship to honor her affiliation with the University of Idaho and the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. She hopes that this scholarship will help students pursue their studies when they might otherwise not be able to due to financial challenges. Thanks to Taylor and other generous supporters, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences continues to increase its scholarship base to assist students. For information on how you can help students with scholarships or establish a new endowed scholarship call 208-885-2664 or 208-885-6855.

Duane and Phyllis LeTourneau honored

A bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) on the UI campus now honors Duane and Phyllis LeTourneau with their names on a plaque. Students from FarmHouse fraternity nominated the CALS biochemistry professor emeritus and his wife for the honor because of their volunteer work with the fraternity, the University Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the development of scholarships and lectureships, and the UI Foundation. LeTourneau taught at the UI from 1953 to 1991, and also taught some post-retirement classes. Photos by Richard Naskali

Centennial Scholarship Endowment

Celebrate the Past Century…..
The College of Agriculture entered its second century in 2001. Many things have changed in the past 100 years, including the college’s name—we’re now the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. One thing that hasn’t changed is the educational quality our students enjoy. To make those programs even more accessible, we have created a Centennial Scholarship.
Your support of this scholarship is critical to our continued success and growth.

Support the Future….
The Centennial Scholarship enables us to attract outstanding new students and reward those who already are achieving great success. You can be a part of that success by contributing to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Centennial Scholarship fund. And in the process you’ll build a strong future for our greatest resource…people.
For questions call: 208.885.2664 or 208.885.6446

EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Two CALS faculty were honored by the UI this spring for outstanding achievement in outreach.

Gary Fornshell, associate extension professor, leads a nationally recognized aquaculture extension program. Thanks to his work, Idaho’s aquaculture industry can produce the same amount of fish that it did five years ago, with significantly lower nutrient levels in the fish farm effluents entering the Snake River.Fornshell, who came to the UI in 1992, received $5,000.

Douglas Pals, professor of agricultural education, is widely recognized for his outreach work with Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC), which helps pre-K through 12th grade students gain greater awareness of the role of agriculture in our economy and society.Pals, who joined the UI in 1977, received $2,500.

OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE AWARDS
Three CALS employees were voted “outstanding”by their colleagues, and honored at a May event.

Anna Davis, computer specialist for the Caldwell Research and Extension Center,provides technical support to over 50 county extension and research offices and 400 computers throughout Idaho.Her work requires about 50,000 miles of highway travel each year.

Sonia Todd, administrative assistant for the Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, as the main contact for undergraduate and graduate students, strives to make sure each has a positive experience.

Barbara Smith, public information specialist for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, works well with and recruits students and deftly handles multiple projects.