More
than 450 FFA members, advisors and guests attended
the 72nd annual New Jersey State FFA Convention at
Cook College, New Brunswick, in May. During the three-day
convention, FFA members from across the state gathered
to conduct business and honor fellow members for
their achievements, culminating with the election
of the new State FFA Officer team.
More than $5,000 in college scholarships
was awarded to FFA members, with an additional $3,500 in awards presented
to FFA chapters and individuals. Scholarships and awards were sponsored
by the State and National FFA Foundations, the State FFA Association
and other agricultural organizations. FFA is a national organization
of more than 447,247 members preparing for leadership and careers
in the science, business and technology of agriculture. More importantly,
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing
their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career
success through agricultural education.
2000-2001 STATE FFA AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- FFA
Week Award: 1st Place receiving $100 and a plaque was the Woodstown FFA
Chapter. The FFA Week Award is presented to the chapter that
has an outstanding program of activities for its school and community
during National FFA Week.
The 2000-01 NJ FFA Member of the Year was Sara Colson of
the Woodstown FFA Chapter. Sara was chosen for this award
based on her Supervised Agricultural Experience program and her participation
in FFA Activities on the local, state and national level.
- Proficiency
Awards: A Proficiency Award is presented to a member who
has displayed outstanding leadership and development in his/her
Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE). Each of the
following members received a Proficiency Award from one of 49
different project areas:
- Agricultural
Sales and/or Service - Placement - Amy L. Newkirk of
the Cumberland FFA Chapter Dairy Production - Placement
- Matthew Turner of the Cumberland FFA Chapter
Equine Science- Placement- Becky Longmuir of the Freehold FFA
Chapter; Entrepreneurship - Miki Zdanuk of the Penns
Grove FFA Chapter Floriculture - Placement- Karen
D. Brown of the Union County FFA Chapter Home
and/or Community Development - Placement- Justin A. Wilson of
the Penns Grove FFA Chapter Landscape Management -
Placement- Chris Hepner of the Cumberland FFA
Chapter Nursery Operations- Placement- Donald Johnson
III of the Cumberland FFA Chapter Outdoor Recreation-
Placement- Gregory Babbitt of the Newton FFA
Chapter Sheep Production - Placement- Michael Sodtalbers of
the Warren Hills FFA Chapter Specialty Crop Production
- Placement- John Coombs of the Woodstown FFA
Chapter
- Vegetable
Production - Placement- Michael Brooks of the Woodstown FFA
Chapter
NJ
FFA Essay - The purpose of the State FFA Essay contest is to
develop strong writing skills in members. Content, grammar, and
mechanics are graded equally, because these are all important elements
of writing. All essays are written on current subjects that are
of agricultural nature and of general interest to the public. The
winners were:
Division
1 winner -David Burnett, Atlantic County FFA Chapter
Division
3 winner - Ed Kijowski, Piscataway FFA Chapter
The H.O.
Sampson Trophy is awarded annually to the FFA chapter that
consistently shows excellence in Career Development Events throughout
the year. The Allentown FFA Chapter, of Monmouth County,
was presented this prestigious award. The Agriscience Teacher
of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding agricultural educator
who emphasizes science concepts, principles and applications. The FFA
Advisor of the Year Award recognizes the Chapter Advisor who
provides guidance and inspiration for a successful FFA Chapter.
Both awards were presented to Robin C. McLean of the Penns
Grove FFA Chapter. The Superior Chapter Award is awarded
to a Chapter that conducts a well-rounded program of activities
in their school or community. The Superior Chapters are:
Allentown
Atlantic County
BCIT - Medford
BCIT - Westampton
Bergen County
Belvidere
Buena
Camden Tech East
Cape May
Cumberland
Freehold
Gloucester County
Hunterdon Polytech - Voorhees
Newton
Northern Burlington
North Warren
Oakcrest
Penns Grove
Piscataway
South Hunterdon
Sussex Tech
Union County
Warren Hills
West Essex
Woodstown
National
Emblem Chapters: The National Emblem Chapter Awards are given
to the top chapters that have received a Superior Chapter rating.
Those chapters have organized and conducted an exceptional FFA
program for their members. The winners are:
Gold
- |
1) |
Allentown |
2) |
Woodstown |
3) |
Penns
Grove |
Silver
- |
Newton,
North Warren, Atlantic County and Northern Burlington |
Bronze
- |
Bergen
County and Burlington County Institute of Technology -
Westampton |
- WLC
Scholarship- Jennifeur Wilson of the Northern Burlington FFA
Chapter was awarded a special scholarship to attend the Washington
Leadership Conference this summer in Washington D.C., where she
will participate in personal development and leadership workshops.
The New Jersey FFA Alumni Association sponsored the scholarship.
- State
and National FFA Scholarships are awarded to FFA members
based on academic merit, school activities, and FFA participation
and leadership. The following students were awarded state FFA
scholarships:
- $2,000 BASF
Scholarship
Erin Zukus, Allentown FFA Chapter
$1250 Norman J. Schnetzer Memorial Scholarship
Sara Colson, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$500 Atlantic Grange # 216 Scholarship
John Coombs, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$300 Phillip Alampi Scholarship
Sara Colson, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$150 John Cummings Scholarship
Brian Dalbow, Penns Grove FFA Chapter
$70 William G. Smith Memorial Scholarship
Adrianna Aragona, Union County FFA Chapter
$100 Harry S. Schnieber Scholarship
Mark Napolitano, Freehold FFA Chapter
$100 Stephen A. Tucker Scholarship
Louisa Sidwa, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$400 C. Fred Lorenzo Scholarship
Susan Stecker, Belvidere FFA Chapter
$225 Woodstown Senior Award
Lesley Bishop, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$200 Washington Grange #117 Scholarship
Erin Zukus, Allentown FFA Chapter
$125 Atlantic Board of Agriculture Local Scholarship
Michael Genovese, Buena FFA Chapter
Princeton Agricultural Association Outstanding FFA Leadership
Award
Melissa Mulcahy, Piscataway FFA Chapter and Brian Skillman,
South Hunterdon FFA Chapter
- $7,500 Delaware
Valley College Scholarship for State Officers
Michael Butler, Newton; Erin Zukus, Allentown; Patty Fanella,
Newton; Nichole Steward, Northern Burlington; Dawn Kaufman, Oakcrest;
and Laura Cooper, HPT-Central.
National
FFA Scholarships:
- $1000 Pennzoil
- Quaker State Company Scholarship
Greg Babbitt, Newton FFA Chapter
$500 Quality Stores, Inc. Scholarship
Sara Colson, Woodstown FFA Chapter
$500 Daimler Chrysler Corporation Fund - Dodge Trucks Scholarship
Willow Kessler, North Warren FFA Chapter
Most Improved Chapter: The Most Improved Chapter Award recognizes
the chapter that has improved or increased its FFA program of activities
over the past year. The 2001 Most Improved Chapter is the Burlington
County Institute of Technology - Medford FFA Chapter.
The Star State Greenhand FFA Award is awarded to an outstanding
first year member who was awarded Star Greenhand from their chapter.
The 2001 winner is Ryan Chiste of the Allentown FFA
Chapter.
The Star State Chapter FFA Award recognizes a New Jersey FFA
member who has been outstanding in terms of leadership skills, involvement
in chapter activities, and his/her Supervised Agricultural Experience
project. The 2001 winner, with a project in the area of Agribusiness,
is Karen Fiscor of the Allentown FFA Chapter.
- Membership
Awards - The National FFA Organization provides recognition
for chapters with the highest number of members. Chapter Membership
Data reflected the following:
- Highest
Membership - Penns Grove FFA Chapter, with 357
members
The
New Jersey FFA Association membership totals over 2,000 members.
There are 38 FFA chapters in New Jersey.
- Agricultural
Awareness Award: 1st Place receiving a cash award and a plaque
was the North Warren FFA Chapter. The Agricultural Awareness
Program is designed to encourage FFA Chapters to teach elementary
school children where our food comes from.
Public Relations Event: 1st Place receiving a cash award and
a plaque was the Woodstown FFA Chapter. The Public Relations
Award Program is designed to encourage chapters to promote FFA and
Agricultural Education within their schools and communities.
Extemporaneous Public Speaking: The first place Extemporaneous
Public Speaker was Greg Babbitt, Newton FFA Chapter. He was
given an agricultural topic, had 30 minutes to produce a speech and
present it to a panel of judges. He will compete at the National
FFA Convention in Louisville, KY in October.
6-8 Minute Prepared Public Speaking Event: The first place
Prepared Public Speaker was Jennifeur Wilson, Northern Burlington FFA
Chapter. She will compete at the National FFA Convention in Louisville,
KY in October.
3-5 Minute Prepared Public Speaking Event: The winner of the
3-5 Minute Prepared Public Speaking Event was James Luckey, Newton
FFA Chapter.
Creed Winner: Rebecca Schnetzer, Warren Hills FFA Chapter
placed first in the Creed Event receiving a $100 check and a plaque.
This event requires contestants to memorize and deliver the FFA Creed,
then answer questions from a panel of judges. She will compete in
the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY in October.
The winner of the Dr. Charles C. Drawbaugh Parliamentary Procedure
Event was the Penns Grove FFA Chapter.
- The Official
FFA Ceremonies Event was developed to encourage excellence
in presenting FFA Opening and Closing Ceremonies for chapter
officers, as well as in conducting other special ceremonies.
The 1st place Official Ceremonies Team was the Allentown FFA
Chapter.
Events
conducted at the convention and winners:
Scrapbook
Award- Woodstown FFA Chapter
Portable Exhibit- Woodstown FFA Chapter
Secretary of the Year Award- David Burnett, Atlantic Co. FFA
Chapter
Treasurer of the Year Award- Mary Colson, Woodstown FFA Chapter
Job Interview Event- Agnes-Marie Garner, Woodstown FFA Chapter
Tractor Driving Event- Matt Baley, North Warren FFA Chapter
Landscape Design Event- Kristina Thyren, Sussex Tech. FFA
Chapter
Demonstration
Career Development Event: Students have the opportunity to
conduct a presentation on any agriculturally-related topic. Students
may compete in the Team or Individual Events.
1st
place team - BCIT-Medford FFA Chapter
1st place individual - Branden Smith, Cape May FFA Chapter
State
FFA Degrees - Fifty-three (53) FFA members received their State
FFA degrees, the highest degree a state can bestow upon its members.
Out of those 53 candidates, one member was recognized with the Star
State Placement Award: Christopher Delaney, Woodstown FFA
Chapter, and one member received the Star State Farmer Award:
Heather Waters, Belvidere FFA Chapter.
CHAPTERS |
RECIPIENTS |
|
Allentown |
James
H. Bruins |
|
BCIT
- Westampton |
Alison
S. Brenner, Amanda L. Haines, Michael D. Hall, Gina D. Marisi,
Megan M. McCord |
|
Belvidere |
Adam
R. Gangaware, Heather L. Waters |
|
Buena |
Michael
F. Genovese, Pamela M. Hermann, |
Matthew
L. Richardson |
|
Camden-Pennsauken |
Isha
Elias, Shante M. Lee, Salena M. Mendez, Priscilla Quiles |
|
Cumberland |
Donald
M. Johnson III, Amy L. Newkirk |
|
Freehold |
Mark
Napolitano |
|
HPT
- Voorhees |
Crystal
A. Bauer, Meghann C. Burke |
|
Newton |
William
J. Cuff, Matthew A. Dunbar, Ryan A. Henion, Matthew Moorman,
Brian Mueller, David O. Snyder |
|
North
Warren |
Willow
S. Kessler |
|
Northern
Burlington |
Jennifeur
L. Wilson |
|
Oakcrest |
Shantay
D. Barley |
|
Penns
Grove |
Brian
W. Dalbow, Robert Gioia, Ainslie M. Grim, Christina M. Proud,
Justin A. Wilson, Miki E. Zdanuk |
|
Piscataway |
Paul
A. Medina, Melissa Mulcahy |
|
South
Hunterdon |
Brian
P. Skillman, Eric S. Teschke |
|
Sussex
County |
Mark
A. Richter, Kristina J. Thyren |
|
Union
County |
Leyna
A. Fragoso, Niya M. Lassiter, Jessica L. Messina |
|
Warren
Hills |
Malissa
L. Anema |
|
Woodstown |
Lesley
A. Bishop, Elizabeth M. Cobb, Sara E. Colson, Agnes-Marie L.
Garner, Kathryn C. Harris, John H. Coombs, Christopher R. Delaney,
Louisa M. Sidwa |
|