Program Excellence Through Research AWARD

1st Place National Winner - 
Christina Edholm & Team from Missouri
From Awareness to Action: The Role of Ouch! in Breaking Stereotypes
Winner Application Files

2nd Place National Winner - 
Jennifer Taylor & Team from New Jersey
Rutgers SNAP Gap Project: Identifying the Barriers and Strategies to Increase SNAP Participation in Families Enrolled in Free and Reduced-Cost School Meals

3rd Place National Winner - 
Nichole Huff & Team from Kentucky
Examination of Mentimeter as a Tool for Online Extension Education

School Wellness AWARD

1st Place National Winner - 
Siew Guan Lee & Team from Idaho
Indoor Container Garden Promotes Youth Engagement and Wellness during School Year
Winner Application Files

2nd Place National Winner - 
Rachel Dillard from Oregon
Implementing Food Waste Awareness and Reduction Strategies in School Cafeterias

3rd Place National Winner - 
Mariah Newmyer & Team from Nebraska
Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids

SNAP-ED/EFNEP Education AWARD

1st Place National Winner - 
Caitlin Mellendorf & Team from Illinois
Oh Deer! Addressing Food Insecurity in Rural Communities through Deer Donation
Winner Application Files

2nd Place National Winner - 
Lea Palmer & Team from Utah
Captain Create Better Health- SNAP-Ed Youth Programming

3rd Place National Winner - 
Johanna Hahn & Team from Virginia
Healthy Eating and Staying Active as We Age - A nutrition and physical activity, practice-based curriculum created for adults ages 45+ years

Social Media Education AWARD

1st Place National Winner - 
Z. Tennille Short & Team from Tennessee
The UT Kitchen Divas: Bringing People Together While Cooking Apart... Over Zoom
Winner Application Files

2nd Place National Winner - 
Alexandria Gayton & Team from Maine
Trusted Nutrition Education through Social Media

3rd Place National Winner - 
LaToya Drake from Kentucky
Plate It Up Kentucky Proud in the Metaverse

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

To receive the Distinguished Service Award an individual must have been a member of NEAFCS for 10 years or more and attended at least 2 Annual Sessions.  The award recognizes Extension FCS Educators for leadership, outstanding programs, and personal & professional growth.

Arizona

Ashley Dixon-Kleiber - Since 2017, Associate Ashley Dixon-Kleiber has written for, acquired, and managed/co-managed over $6 million in grant/external funds. These funds support 11 staff who deliver multiple programs over multiple counties.

Arkansas

Jessica Vincent – Jessica is very committed to fulfilling the mission of Extension, improving lives, and serving other, and is honored and grateful to be a part of a great organization and family.

Mary Kizer – Mary’s programs cover many FCS areas. She is blessed daily to appreciate her clients, serve with gratitude, and make a difference in so many lives.

Georgia

Keishon Thomas – Keishon’s goal in serving is to assist individuals with information to make a difference in their lives. Her journey has been amazing!

Idaho

Surine Greenway - Surine teaches food safety and preservation, health and nutrition and financial management in Idaho. She has co-authored nine articles and has served on the Idaho affiliate of NEAFCS board.

Iowa

Cindy Thompson - Cindy’s Extension service encompasses impactful programs in early childhood, a commitment to lifelong learning, numerous accolades, and extensive involvement with NEAFCS at both state and national levels.

Kansas

Erin Tynon - Erin is a Family Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research and Extension in Pottawatomie County. She has been an agent for 11 years, serving on various coalitions that further her communities health.

Holly Miner - Giving back to others has been a goal for Holly since her participation in 4-H as a youth. She delivers a variety of programs through extensive programming efforts.

Kentucky

Debbie Messenger - Fifteen years of FCS programming has been guided by community needs and developed into a diverse program full of educational opportunities for families and clientele of Cumberland County.

Deborah Shepherd - Deborah currently has 29 years of experience as a University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent. Leadership development is an important part of her Extension work.

Whitney Morrow - After over eleven years of service in Carter County Kentucky, Whitney has grown and developed through professional opportunities all while expanding Family and Consumer Sciences Extension programming that impacts families and the community.

Mississippi

Katrina McCalphia - Katrina has provided leadership in Newton Mississippi for over 29 years. Her program highlights include teaching nutrition and health, adult/youth partnerships, workforce development and stress management.

New Mexico

Rick Griffiths - Rick is the San Juan County, New Mexico FCS Agent. His programming focuses on food safety, Wellness, and personal finance. He currently serves as NEAFCS President.

North Dakota

Kari Helgoe - Kari is a North Dakota State University Family Community Wellness Agent. She has been serving individuals, families and communities through food and nutritional education, parenting and wellness, and community development opportunities for 12 years.

Ohio

Candace Heer - Candace believes partnerships make a difference and she enjoys several collaborations in Morrow County and statewide to provide programming in financial wellness, food safety and preservation, and health and well-being.

James Bates - Jim is focused on developing family life education curricula on fatherhood, grandfathering, parenting, and youth development. He also conducts research on aging-related topics to understand adult development, motivation, and resiliency.

Oklahoma

Lesa Rauh - Lesa has served Oklahomans in Osage, Garfield, and Custer Counties. She passionately delivers creative programming in Food Safety, Finances, Caregiving, and Family Relationships in her county and the state.

Trinity Brown - Trinity is a Family and Consumer Science and 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator for Pawnee County in Oklahoma. She has been an active member of NEAFCS for 19 years.

Oregon

Lauren Kraemer - Lauren has built a distinguished Extension career through the variety and excellence of the programs she has developed, the personal and professional growth she has achieved, and the leadership roles she has held in her community and Extension.

Tennessee

Sarah Arnold - Sarah developed the GrowJoCoKids program from food samples to a youth gardening program that introduces participants to agriculture. The program expanded access to fresh, affordable foods in the community.

Texas

Alinda Cox - Alinda has been serving as an Extension Agent for over 25 years. She has had the pleasure to provide educational experiences for both youth and adults in variety of program areas.

Courtney Parrott - Courtney has been a member of NEAFCS for 10 years. She is a valuable and respected agent that has served two counties in Texas.

Lorie Garcia - Lorie has been a life-long teacher in Public and Extension education. Lorie is passionate about the well-being of her community and is a valuable resource providing high-quality education.

Virginia

Rebecca Gartner - Becky has worked as an Extension Agent for 15 years. Her program focus has been food safety, food preservation and diabetes prevention. She also established a shared use kitchen facility.

Washington

Diane Smith - Diane has been a leader in Family and Consumer Science over the past 20 years. The impact of her program is recognized for excellence.

West Virginia

Hannah Fincham - Hannah continually works to improve her skills to meet the needs of her community. She enjoys teaching food preservation, working with youth, and helping others learn new skills.

Wisconsin

Beverly Doll - Beverly is an educator within UW Madison Division of Extension is committed to creating an environment where families, individuals, and communities gain skills improving quality of life and community capacity.

continued excellence award

The Continued Excellence Award recognizes active involvement in professional improvement programs, promotion of professional development, and leadership. They must have been a member for at least 12 years, attended 3 or more Annual Sessions and received the NEAFCS Distinguished Service Award prior to the year in which they achieve Continued Excellence. 

Alabama

Sharon Haynes - Sharon is a dedicated Extension leader and educator with over 27 years of service who believes in Taking the University to the People. Her motto is Leadership is an action, not a position.

Arizona

Traci Armstrong Florian - Traci has worked in Cooperative Extension for 23 years. Traci started as a bilingual-EFNEP educator and with education and caring mentors, is now a Full Agent with Continuing status.

Colorado

Joy Akey - Joy places value on professional development and has gained benefit in her career through various professional improvement opportunities, serving as a mentor, and active involvement in association leadership roles.

Georgia

Leigh Ann Aaron - Leigh Anne serves as Northeast District Family and Consumer Sciences Program Development Coordinator, working with county Extension faculty to develop and implement FACS programs to provide research-based information.

Kansas

Robin Eubank-Callis - Since 2003, Robin served K-State Research and Extension in 3 locations, the last 16 years in Barber County. Her legacy will be the community coalitions that she helped found in 2 locations.

Kentucky

Christy Stearns - Christy values serving others, outside the box thinking, and positively impacting individuals, families, and communities through creative approaches to healthy lifestyle choices.

Minnesota

Samantha Roth - Samantha creatively incorporates storytelling and the lived experiences of her participants to develop programs that are engaging and interactive for her audiences. She embraces lifelong learning and strives to improve the lives of Minnesotans.

Missouri

Jessica Trussell - Jessica has been a human development field specialist with University of Missouri Extension for 16 years, focusing on aging well, mental health, parenting, suicide prevention, and professional development.

New Mexico

Karim Martinez - Dr. Karim has been apart of NEAFCS for 20 years. She served as a County FCS agent for 14 years and is now a Family Life and Child Development specialist.

North Carolina

Toi Degree – For Toi, the past seventeen years with NC Cooperative Extension have been phenomenal! Providing the residents with the latest research-based knowledge is undoubtedly one of the most valuable contributions to the community.

North Dakota

Christina Masich - Exhibiting continued excellence through a commitment to professional development for self and others, Christina continues to participate in educational and professional opportunities to strive towards the implementation of the Extension mission.

Ohio

Kathryn Tutt - Kathryn specializes in building resources for family resiliency throughout the lifespan. Particularly focusing on dementia caregivers, to help them achieve connection, confidence, and competence during their caregiving journey.

Oklahoma

Jean Bailey - Jean is a 19-year member of NEAFCS. She is a county extension educator & CED in NW Oklahoma. Her professional development goals include becoming a strong leader and helping the next generation of extension professionals.

Tennessee

Lamanda Weston - NEAFCS has given Lamanda many opportunities to grow professionally and personally, through interacting with members from around the country, to joining various committees, and leadership in affiliate officer positions.

Heather Kyle – Heather has worked for UT Extension as a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent for 26 years. She has been actively involved in NEAFCS for most of those years. Heather has held regional and state level positions and attended 4 national meetings and have loved all of her time spent in this wonderful professional organization.

Utah

Shannon Cromwell - Shannon is an associate professor with USU Extension. She has obtained $3.7 million in funding to support her efforts focusing on empowering youth, strengthening interpersonal relationships, and reducing food insecurity.

Washington

Kayla Wells-Yoakum - Kayla has been an Extension Educator with Washington State University and a member of NEAFCS for almost fourteen years. Kayla’s professional passions are education, community engagement and leadership.

Wisconsin

Jenny Abel - Jenny is dedicated to working with her colleagues to meet the financial education needs of Wisconsin residents. She is grateful for all she has learned during 24 years with Extension.