March 19, 1999

Graduate Student Award in Food Science Endowed at Geneva

by Linda McCandless

 

(left to right) Jane Friedrich and Jonathan Licker are among 20 graduate students in FS&T at Geneva. They consider Dr. Don Downing (far right) an enthusiastic supporter of the program. CREDIT: R.Way/NYSAES/Cornell

GENEVA, NY: Graduate Student Award in Food Science Endowed at Geneva by Linda McCandless GENEVA, NY: Professor Emeritus Donald L. Downing has established an endowment to support an award of excellence that will recognize an outstanding graduate student in Cornell University's Department of Food Science & Technology (FS&T) at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, NY. "Dr. Downing has always been a primary supporter of Geneva's role in the education of graduate students," said Mark McLellan, FS&T department chair. "To establish such a legacy is to forever recognize the importance of graduate student research here at Geneva." McLellan hopes it is the first of many awards that might be established by friends of the department and retiring faculty. The Downing Award will be given annually. Selection will be made by the department chair based on academic achievement, service to the department, and leadership among students. The award is $250. "I was prompted to establish this award because there are several awards of this nature on the Ithaca campus," said Downing. "I thought it would be a good idea if Geneva had something similar. By establishing it, I thought it might motivate others to do the same." Downing was professor of Food Processing at Geneva from 1967 to 1998. He always maintained a close relationship with graduate students in the department despite the fact that his extension appointment did not allow for support of any students of his own. Downing is credited with the successful establishment of the Food Venture Center (FVC) program at Cornell, and served as its director from 1988 until 1998 when he retired. The FVC provides guidance to state residents seeking to introduce new food products and processes to the marketplace and is one of the flagship programs of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you need a hard copy of the photo, please contact Rob Way at 315-787-2357, or at rfw2@cornell.edu
Click on the above photo for a 300 ppi version.

Contact: Linda McCandless, Communications Services
Telephone: (315) 787-2417
e-mail: llm3@cornell.edu

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