2011 Distinguished Achievement Awards

Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students have selected 24 outstanding members of the school’s faculty and staff to be honored with 2011 Distinguished Achievement Awards.

The university-level Distinguished Achievement Awards were first presented in 1955 and have since been awarded to 906 professionals (including this year’s recipients) who have exhibited the highest standards of excellence at Texas A&M. 

The 2011 Distinguished Achievement Awards will be formally presented at 1:30 p.m. April 27 during ceremonies in Rudder Theater on the Texas A&M University campus. In recognition of their achievements, each recipient will receive a $4,000 cash gift, an engraved watch and a commemorative plaque. For more information about the awards, contact Kelli Hutka ’97 at The Association of Former Students at (979)845-7514.

The 2011 recipients, along with their departments/affiliations are:

FOR TEACHING       

• Nancy Amato, Computer Science and Engineering
• Kim Hill, Political Science
• Daniel Jennings '86, Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution
• Joyce Juntune '97, Educational Psychology
• John Penson, Agricultural Economics
• Christopher Pope, Physics and Astronomy
• Courtney Schumacher, Atmospheric Sciences
• Alina Sorescu, Marketing
• Ryland Young, Biochemistry/Biophysics
• Asghar Zardkoohi, Management

FOR RESEARCH

• Robert Chapkin, Nutrition and Food Science
• Gerard Cote, Biomedical Engineering
• Joseph Pasciak, Mathematics       
• Daniel Romo '86, Chemistry      
• Jairo Sinova, Physics and Astronomy      
• Jim Varni, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning

FOR STAFF

• Ann Eastwood, Architecture
• Patsy Witter, Marine Biology, Texas A&M at Galveston

FOR STUDENT RELATIONS

• Anthony "Shady" Groves '68, Office of the Commandant
• Edward Rister '74, Agricultural Economics

FOR ADMINISTRATION

• Kemble Bennett, Office of the Chancellor

FOR EXTENSION, OUTREACH, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Lisa Whittlesey '89, Department of Horticultural Sciences

FOR GRADUATE MENTORING

• John Edwards, Veterinary Pathobiology
• Eluned Jones '87, Agricultural Economics

The Association of Former Students, established in 1879, is the official alumni organization of Texas A&M
University. The Association connects the nearly 500,000 members of the worldwide Aggie Network with each other and the university, and provides more than $7.0 million a year in impact to university scholarships, awards, activities and enrichment for students, faculty, staff and former students.