Winners Announced in Bumpers Thesis and Project Competition

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Mike Norton, gold ribbon winner

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Several winners have been recognized in the initial Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Outstanding Project and Thesis competition at the University of Arkansas.

The Bumpers College Honors Program competition began with faculty nominating projects and theses for consideration. Following a review by a panel, three of the nominees were selected for a gold ribbon round of presentations.

Following the presentations, Mike Norton received the gold ribbon award for the Outstanding Bumpers College Honors Project/Thesis. Norton, from Lincoln, is a poultry science/agricultural business dual major. He is graduating summa cum laude with honors distinction.

The college’s Leadership in Food Policy team and Aki Kogo earned gold ribbons for Excellent Quality.

Katie Jo McGehee and Quang Ngo earned sliver ribbons.

“The projects, the quality of work and accomplishments by these students is exemplary of the Bumpers College Honors Program,” said professor and director of the program Curt Rom. “We are proud of their work and know they will become leaders in their chosen fields.”

Norton’s thesis was “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Farmer Training in Ghanaian Cocoa Farming.” He was mentored by assistant professor Lanier Nalley.

In 2009, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), in conjunction with the Gates Foundation, initiated the Cocoa Livelihoods Program to increase farmer income and strengthen local service capacity. Using data from 2010 and 2011, the goal was to estimate the change in net value for producers in Ghana who used what they learned from the program. Norton’s analyses showed the average cocoa yield increased 75.24 percent after the program was completed.

“While I have no doubt Mike will have his work published in a reputable international development journal, his biggest contribution from this work is not to science or ‘the literature,’ but to humanity through alleviating poverty,” Nalley said. “This is something I was proud to be a part of and something we are celebrating with him.”  

The Leadership in Food Policy team was made up of Norton, Raven Bough, Hayley Jernigan, Kathryn Thomas and Amy West. Their project was “Herbicide-Resistant Soybeans in Arkansas: Lessons Learned and Future Direction.” The group was mentored by Dean Mike Vayda, Rom and graduate assistant Michele Helton.

“This is an exciting, innovative approach for interactive learning,” said Vayda. “Our Executive Advisory Board says this kind of learning provides students with the opportunity to understand what will be expected of them in their professional careers – having to rely on one another’s strengths to get a team effort done, communicating effectively with one another across disciplinary boundaries, learning from each other and learning to trust each other. This is a true leadership development opportunity.”

Bough is a horticulture, landscape and turf sciences major from Fayetteville. She is graduating summa cum laude with honors distinction. Jernigan is a senior from Springdale majoring in agricultural education, communication, and technology. Thomas is a junior from Quitman, also majoring in agricultural education, communication, and technology. West is a sophomore from Westcliffe, Colo., majoring in agricultural business.

“This course gets students out of the classroom and gives them real-world experience,” said Jim Craig, director of marketing and operations at Stratton Seed Company in Stuttgart and sponsor of the project. “They work as a team and get exposed to other disciplines. It’s not about competing against your fellow workers. It’s about competing against other companies in your industry. It exposes them to the real world and real people out there in the trenches.”

Kogo’s project was “Short-Term Denitrification in the Metalimnion of a Eutrophic Reservoir.” She was mentored by assistant professor Thad Scott. Kogo is an environmental, soil and water science major from Nara, Japan. She is graduating magna cum laude with honors distinction.

McGehee’s project was “The Transformation of Women on a Commercial Poultry Operation in Rwanda.” She was mentored by professor Jeff Miller. McGehee is a poultry science major from Ozark, and is graduating with honors distinction.

Ngo’s project was “The Relationship Between the First Impression that Dress Creates and College Students’ Reaction Toward it.” He was mentored by assistant professor Kathy Smith. Ngo is an apparel studies major from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is graduating summa cum laude with honors distinction.

All Bumpers College honors students will be recognized and receive their college honors medallion on Friday, May 10, and be introduced at the Bumpers College commencement on Saturday, May. 11.