Gary W. Fick, professor of agronomy in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will be presented with the Agronomic Resident Education Award from the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) for "outstanding contributions to agronomy through education, national and international service and research."

Fick, who has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in forage crops, sustainable agriculture and methods of research, has degrees from the University of Nebraska (B.S., 1965), Massey University (M.S., 1968) in New Zealand and the University of California-Davis (Ph.D., 1971). He has received teaching awards from the chancellor of the State University of New York and the Northeast Branch of ASA, the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). He is a fellow of ASA and CSSA.

The award will be presented at the ASA annual meeting, Oct. 16-19, in San Antonio.

ASA also announced that Peter Narby '12, a plant science major, and Julio Pachon '14, an agriculture science and plant science major, were chosen to participate in its Golden Opportunity Scholars Institute, which matches undergraduates with scientist-mentors at ASA, CSSA and SSSA meetings.

Pachon also was chosen for ASA's Cross-Cultural Experience Program, which provides an undergraduate who is going abroad with summer learning and working experience to learn more about agricultural sciences and agricultural education through international agricultural programs. Pachon, who is fluent in English, Spanish and French, will spend spring semester 2012 in Brazil.

The ASA has more than 8,000 members and is committed to advancing the disciplines and practices of agronomy.