November 20, 2002 News Releases
Released 11/19/02
UTAH
STATE PROF NAMED NATIONAL ALPHA TAU ALPHA PRESIDENT
Utah State University professor Gary S. Straquadine was announced
as president of Alpha Tau Alpha for 2002-2003. Alpha Tau Alpha
is a national honorary agricultural education organization.
“The purpose of Alpha Tau Alpha is to develop a true professional
spirit in the teaching of agriculture, to help train teachers
of agriculture who will be rural leaders in their communities
and to foster a fraternal spirit among students in teacher-training
for vocational agriculture,” said Robert Martin, professor
of agricultural education at Iowa State University.
The organization, designed to help agricultural education students,
began in 1921 at the University of Illinois. Currently, there
are 47 chapters and 18,000 members.
Straquadine serves as professor and department head for Agricultural
Systems Technology and Education in the College of Agriculture.
He has given 14 years of service to Utah State University. He
grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and completed his B.S. and
M.S. degrees in agriculture and Extension education from New
Mexico State University, earning his doctorate at Ohio State
University. Straquadine worked as a high school teacher of agriculture
and as a state-level specialist for agricultural education in
the North Dakota state office of education. He taught at New
Mexico State and Ohio State before coming to Utah State.
His teaching assignments have varied through the years. Straquadine
has taught the majority of teacher preparation and Extension
education courses in the department, and has supervised more
than 130 student teachers in the last decade. He implemented
the College of Agriculture technical writing course in 1988
and the Humanity in the Food Web course in 1999. His graduate
teaching responsibilities include courses in agricultural Extension
principles and practices, program planning and evaluation, and
research methods. He has taught courses using various forms
of distance education, including Comm-Net, Ed-Net, satellite
and the Web.
“Straquadine teaches by example,” reports Amy Neal,
a 1998 graduate and Idaho agricultural education teacher. “He
teaches with enthusiasm, with a focus on the process of learning
rather than just content. He believes students must assume responsibility
for their education, knowing the expectations and procedures
for effective learning.”
Learning is more than simply fulfilling requirements or pouring
information into an empty vessel, according to Straquadine.
“Application, assimilation and synthesis are of the greatest
importance,” he said. “Real learning is best measured
five or more years after graduation.”
Besides his administrative duties as a department head, Straquadine
advises all levels and types of students and conducts an active
research program in agricultural systems and education policies,
standards and competencies. His curriculum development efforts
are utilized daily throughout Utah agricultural education.
He was awarded Teacher of the Year in the College of Agriculture
in 1992, 1998 and 2000, and Advisor of the Year for the Utah
State University in 1993. In 1999, Straquadine was named a Teaching
Fellow by the National Association of Colleges and Teachers
of Agriculture.
In his spare time, Straquadine trains year round for road races,
from the short to the long, racing three to six marathons per
year.
“I am fortunate to have two of the greatest race fans
— my children, Matthew Jacob and Cara Alyssa,” said
Straquadine.
November 19, 2002
Editor: Nadene Steinhoff, nadene.Steinhoff@usu.edu, 435-797-1429
Contact: Noelle Cockett, 435-797-2215, Noelle.Cockett@usu.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT ART EXHIBIT AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
LOGAN — Graduate students in Utah State University’s
Art Department have joined forces to create an exhibit featuring
their current work. The exhibit can be seen Nov. 22-29 in the
Twain Tippetts Exhibition Hall in the Chase Fine Arts Center
on the Utah State campus.
The featured art includes work by students in the painting,
photo, printmaking, graphic design, and ceramics studios.
Exhibit organizers say they welcome everyone to an opening reception
that features “a deluxe banquet of food and plenty of
time to chat with the artists.” The opening reception
is Friday, Nov. 22, from 7–9 p.m. For the remainder of
the exhibition, the Tippetts Hall is open weekdays, 1–4
p.m.
“This show is a great opportunity for the graduate students
to get to see great work from other studios, as well as a good
way of introducing ourselves to the University and local community,”
said Jill Lawley, a first semester graduate student.
November 18, 2002
Contacts: Mark Anderson or Matt Dannelley in USU Ceramics at
435-797-3566
Utah State Art Dept. office 435-797-3421
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