COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 23, 2003) – A student organization in Tennessee Tech University’s School of Human Ecology has captured the most prestigious award presented to a campus or state-level organization by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences – Pre-professional/Graduate Student Section.

TTU’s chapter of AAFCS recently won the National Standard of Excellence Award, which is based on membership, development of unique recruitment, student support programs and state and national involvement and recognizes the outstanding pre-professional/graduate student affiliate in the nation.

The chapter last year had a total of 40 national members and 82 local members under the leadership of president Amanda Gray, a human ecology major from Pickett County.

Other awards and honors captured by TTU human ecology students at the national conference of the AAFCS – P/GS include:

• The Affiliate Progress Award, given to the state organization under the leadership of president Felicia Bryant, a TTU human ecology major from Smith County.

• The AAFCS Child and Family Section’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award, given to Roxanna Dove, a TTU doctoral recipient from Rutherford County.

• And Outstanding Paper for the Child and Family Pre-conference Session, given to Melinda Swafford, a TTU human ecology faculty member and doctoral student from Putnam County.

Members of the university organization who attended the recent conference in Washington, D.C., were Carrie Burnett of Cumberland County, Dove and Gray.

Sue Bailey, chairperson of TTU’s School of Human Ecology, was elected to be a board member of the AAFCS Council on Accreditation.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 23 December 2003