2004-2005 AFDO Award Winners
Achievement Award - Associate Award - Scholarship Award
Achievement Award
The AFDO Achievement Award is given to an individual who is in his or her first five years of service as an Inspector, Investigator, Milk Specialist, Radiological Health Inspector, Food Specialist, Consumer Protection Inspector, or similar regulatory position. He or she must be a field person; that is: a person who goes out of the office to make inspections a significant portion of his or her working time.
The award recipient must be employed by a Federal, State, County, or municipal Regulatory Agency, which has at least one employee as a member of AFDO. The recipient does not have to be a member of AFDO.
I would now like to present the winner of the AFDO Achievement Award for 2004- 2005.
Michael is a Food Sanitarian with the Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture, Bureau of Food safety and Laboratory Services
His duties include sanitation inspections of food facilities such as wholesale, retail, manufacturing, and storage facilities in assigned regional work. Work includes inspections of shellfish plants, food vending operations, retail food stores, public eating and drinking establishments, home-based businesses, school cafeterias, caterers, camps, campgrounds, organic and maple products, and seasonal farm labor camps. Mike also serves as an H2A (Federal Program) housing inspector, and is certified in Seafood HACCP.
Michael made a great impression with the PA Dept of Agriculture from the moment of his interview, recalls his Division Chief. “He is an intelligent, professional and friendly person”.
Mike has shown a willingness to learn almost anything. He listens carefully and asks thoughtful questions and implements his task with ease. As an inspector, he has “a way” with his establishments, he is tough yet fair. His willingness to listen and talk with establishment employees and owners has made compliance with regulations easier. Mike conducts himself in the most professional manner at all times.
Mike has been asked to take on many special inspectional duties since his short time with the department and has maintained a higher than average performance level for all assigned tasks. Mike never complains about his assignments and his work is always exceptional and very thorough.
As you can see Mike juggles many plates each day. Not many new employees could take on so many programs in such a short period of time and do it in such a commendable manner.
At this time I would like to present the 2004-2005 AFDO Achievement Award to Michael A Neff.
Associate Award
The AFDO Associate Award (Associate Member of the Year) is given each year at the Annual Conference to an Associate member who, through their support and long-term active membership in the Association, and has been actively involved in committee work, development of model codes, and the promotion of the objectives of AFDO.
This year’s recipient was born and raised in New York and attended local schools there. Actually, he was born in the Ridgewood section of Brooklyn and later moved to Elmhurst Queens where our recipient attended elementary school and then Brooklyn Polytechnic High School. After graduating from high school our recipient enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years as an electronic technician on submarines. Upon an honorable discharge from the Navy, our recipient attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a BS in Biochemical Engineering.
In 1952 our recipient returned to New York and began his career with Pfizer as an operational engineer. He remained at Pfizer for twenty years.
The Associate Member Award was presented to Dan J. Badia, President, X-GEN Pharmaceuticals Inc. which is a generic drug company specializing in the production and distribution of "niche" generic pharmaceutical products for his long-term active membership in the Association, active involvement in committee work, development of model codes, and his tireless promotion of the objectives of AFDO.
Scholarship Award
In 1981, AFDO established a scholarship fund with the excess funds from the 75th Anniversary of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The “George M Burditt Scholarship’ and the “Betsy B Woodward Scholarship”, both in the amount of $ 1,500.00 each will be awarded annually to a worthy recipient who is in their third or fourth year of college.
The recipients should have demonstrated a desire to serve in an career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to some aspect of foods, drugs, or consumer protection; should have demonstrated leadership capabilities; and must have at least a grade point average of 3.0 during the first two years of undergraduate study on a scale of 4.0
Our first recipient is Mary Katherine Sonnen who is attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho
Mary will graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and a Minor in Microbiology
Mary is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Freshman Honor Society, and is on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s list, and has been on the Dean’s list since the fall of 2003. Mary belongs to the Student Alumni Relations Board, the Food Science Club, and the collegiate 4-H club of which she is the treasurer for 2004-2005 Mary also belongs to the University of Idaho Honors Program.
Mary has worked as Farm Hand on her family’s small ranch, has cared for the yard and lawns of several of the elderly members of the community, for three winters has worked at the Cottonwood Butte Ski Area and is also a high school Volleyball Official, refereeing games in the Central Idaho area.
During the summer of 2004 Mary worked for the Bureau of Land Management spraying noxious weeds, and as part of weed management, assisted in bio-control and the study of the bugs that had been released in the Star Thistle.
Mary has maintained a high level of achievement while maintaining a GPA of 3.74
After graduating from the University of Idaho, Mary plans on going on to graduate school and then plans to go into food service working for a company in their research and development labs to create new and improved food products.
As Mary so aptly put it, “with all the information surrounding food products and the food industry, what could be more rewarding than becoming a food scientist.” I know the amount of work that goes into producing Americas food. A degree in Food Science will allow me to stay connected with my Agricultural roots while at the same time improving the quality of food that people consume”.
At this time I would like to present Mary Katherine Sonnen as one of the two 2005 George M Burditt, Betsy B Woodward AFDO Scholarship Award winners. Mary could not be with us tonight, however a letter of congratulations and a check for $1,500.00 will be sent be sent to her.
Our second recipient is Emily Renae Bennett who is attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Emily will be graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Food Science.
Emily has received the Lipert Ellis Award, the Gamma Sigma Delta Honors Award, and the Joseph F Fleming National Merit
Scholarship Corporation Award. She has also received the Institute of Food Technologist Award, and the Ozark Food Processors Association Scholarship. She is a member of the Honors Program and is Vice President of the Food Science Club.
Emily has maintained a high level of achievement while maintaining a GPA of 3.88
Emily is a part time Technical Assistant in the Food Science Department, and is a past CampCounselor at Pine Cove. She enjoys mountain biking, camping, reading, and working for Habitat for Humanity.
Her career objectives include pursuing a career as a Food Scientist and serving a community in which knowing Spanish fluently will be a vital asset in her line of work.
Emily had stated that choosing Food Science was a simple decision. I entered the University knowing I would choose a major in the math/science area of study. Food Science integrates all areas of science in a unique and interesting way.
She has said that she would enjoy working in the Food Science areas of research and development, quality control or food safety.
As one of her professors had stated, Emily is an exceptionally brilliant, talented and creative student and is one of our best students, who serves as an excellent example for other students to follow.
At this time may I present Emily Renae Bennett as one of two 2005 George M Burditt, Betsy B Woodward AFDO Scholarship Award winners. Emily could not be with us tonight however a letter of congratulations and a check for $1,500.00 will be sent to her.
