Posted: January 9, 2018

The college's Ag Alumni Society celebrates 50 years of friendship and success.

The Ag Alumni Society's mission in 2017 is as relevant today as it was when the society was created 50 years ago in 1967 under the leadership of Dean Russell E. Larson. The Ag Alumni Society has more than 31,000 living alumni worldwide, many of whom have volunteered their time and talents to create a vibrant alumni society that builds and sustains lifelong relationships between alumni and the college.

Increasing student support and engagement continue to be among the society's most significant efforts. Throughout the last 50 years, the society has established three scholarship endowments, awarding almost $560,000 to 670 students, making us the society with the highest amount of financial support for students out of all of Penn State's college and campus societies.

Recognizing and rewarding extraordinary efforts of alumni, faculty, and staff members has been another key objective of the society for the last 50 years. To name a few, the society established the Excellence in Academic Advising Award in 1985, and in 2001, created the Armsby Honor Society to recognize alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to the college and to fostering their continued involvement in the college.

The society has initiated many worthwhile programs in 50 years and has so much of which to be proud. Many of these programs are cited as exemplary by the University and on a national level. Some of these include our signature event, the Ag Live Tailgate, as well as our graduation event on the day of commencement, the Student Gift Bag Project during finals week, and the Career Workshop.

The success of the alumni society over the last 50 years is due to the dedicated service of hundreds of alumni volunteers. The society will continue to be a vital element in the College of Agricultural Sciences. The foundation for future achievements has been laid, and the society's future endeavors will flourish.

Photos

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Former Ag Alumni Society Presidents attending the 50th Anniversary Ice Cream Social at Ag Progress Days in August 2017.

Alumni 1
Ag Alumni Society board members John Ziegler '50, '52g, '65 Ph.D. AN SC *, Dick Hann '58 D SC, Larry Campbell '63 AG BIOSC, '67g D SC, and MeeCee Baker '82, '94 Ph.D. AG ED collecting items for a society food drive.

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Ag Alumni Society board member Laurie Williams '90 FD SC with Olivia Francois '14 TOX, Alyssa Snyder '16 AN SC, and Molly Cashman '16 AN SC with Dean Rick Roush and his wife, Robyn.

Alumni 2
Ag Alumni Society President MeeCee Baker '82, '94 Ph.D. AG ED presenting Harold Harpster '71, '73g AN SC, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, with the Excellence in Academic Advising Award in 1992.

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Ag Alumni Society board members dipping ice cream at a graduation brunch hosted by the society.

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Charter members of the Armsby Honor Society being honored at the at the first induction ceremony held by the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society in 2002.

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