April 1, 2008
AMES, Iowa —The Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter at Iowa State University was selected National Chapter of the Year on March 29 at the 23rd national conference in Denver.
The club has won the award three out of the past four years. The award is based on building membership, leadership development, community service and promotion of the national organization and its plan of work or calendar of events. During the year members organized food drives for Thanksgiving dinners, clothing donations, volunteered at the Iowa Special Olympics and contributed aid to Panama and Costa Rica.
The Iowa State club is one of five chapters that won its regional competition and went on to compete at the national level. Iowa State is a member of region five which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Charlwit Kulchaiyawat, an animal science graduate student, chaired the ISU Chapter of the Year committee. Eight Iowa State MANRRS members participated in the final presentation.
Aurelio Curbelo, interim director and multicultural liaison officer for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, completed his term as the national graduate president. Marcus Glenn, a graduate student in agriculture education and studies, was elected graduate vice president of region five. Mary de Baca, program coordinator for diversity programs, will continue to serve on the advisory committee to the national MANRRS society.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the genetics interdepartmental program both set up displays at the MANRRS career fair.