For Immediate Release
June 6, 2002

A&T EXTENSION SPECIALISTS RECEIVE STATE AWARD

Greensboro, NC: Drs. Ellen Smoak and Bob Williamson of the Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have been presented with an Extension Education Award by the North Carolina Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists (NCACES).

Smoak and Williamson won the award for their development of the Down-to-Earth program.

Down-to-Earth opens the door for children to use gardening to explore science, mathematics, horticulture, natural resources management, health promotion and safety. The program teaches children about the scientific method, how to reduce the risks of exposure to agricultural hazards, and the interconnection between food and fiber production and natural resources management. The program also opens the eyes of young people to new careers in agriculture and other natural resources professions.

Nearly 500 teachers, 4-H agents and leaders, and more than 3,000 students have participated in the program.

In 2001, the program was accepted into the Juried 4-H Youth Development Curriculum Collection. To be accepted into this national collection, experts from several fields must be satisfied that a curriculum meets high standards in every area, from subject matter content to design and evaluation, and that it is appropriate for national use.

Nominations for the NCACES award are evaluated for creativity and effectiveness in the use of resources and delivery methods, cooperation with outside groups and success in meeting clearly defined objectives. Three award recipients were recognized at a NCACES meeting in Raleigh on May 3, and their names will be engraved on a permanent wall plaque in Ricks Hall on the North Carolina State University Campus.

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For more information, please contact Mitch Arnold, (336) 334-7049.