Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University's student chapter of the Society of American Foresters continues among the top organizations of its kind in the nation.
The 46-member body recently placed first in the SAF Student Chapter Web site competition and now ranks third overall in the outstanding student chapter category.
The group has finished atop the overall chapter rankings for the past decade, capturing first place in the 1996-97, 2000-01, 2003-04, and 2005-06 school years; second place in 1998-99, 2001-02 and 2004-05; and third place in 2002-03 and 2007-08.
With this year's achievements, the chapter has achieved first place for six years in Web site competition. Designed and maintained by members, the site--www.cfr.msstate.edu/studentorgs/saf/--was judged on design and content, among other criteria.
All forestry majors, the 2008-09 officers include president Ryan R. Winters of Kennedyville, Md., vice president Blake Hamilton of Theodore, Ala., secretary Devin C. Rice of Satsuma, Ala., and treasurer Emily M. Courtney of Clinton. Associate professor of forestry Donald L. Grebner is chapter adviser.
Founded in 1900, SAF is the world's largest professional organization for foresters. Its 15,000 active members engage in a variety of programs to improve the health, productivity and use of the nation's forestlands.
The formal awards presentation takes place Thursday [Oct. 1] as part of the national SAF convention in Orlando, Fla. Grebner also will be recognized during the ceremony for his contribution to the student organization.
LOCAL EDITORS: Additional information: Winters is a senior and the son of Richard and Elsie Winters; Hamilton, also a senior and the son of Karen Hamilton; Rice, a junior and son of Preston and Monica Rice; and Courtney, also a senior and the daughter of Anthony and Barbara Courtney.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.