Michael Yeater and Crystal Waters, Carpenter Award winners
Michael Yeater and Crystal Waters, Ph.D. students in the Meat Science Section in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, received the Z.L. Carpenter Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Meat Science at the department’s Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony on December 17, 2015. The award is named in honor of Dr. Zerle L. Carpenter who began his career at Texas A&M University as an assistant professor of animal science in 1962. Dr. Carpenter rose to become full professor of animal science in 1971, head of the Department of Animal Science in 1978, and director of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service (now the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service) in 1982. In 1988, he was named associate vice chancellor for agriculture for The Texas A&M University System. Dr. Carpenter retired in 1997 after providing leadership for the Extension Service for 15 years.
Michael is from Coahoma, Texas and is working on his Ph.D. under Wes Osburn. He has been involved in a variety of teaching activities including ANSC 667, Industrial Processed Meat Operations, ANSC 689, Quality Food Systems, as well as guest lectures in a number of undergraduate and graduate classes. Michael has conducted or assisted with many different research projects during his time here at Texas A&M including those related to quality, shelf-life, and safety. His work in helping with Aggie Meat Processing Technology School, Creative Sausage Making, Pork 101, Texas Association of Meat Processors Pre-Convention Processing Workshop, and serving as a product show judge at the Texas Association of Meat Processors Convention and the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors show his commitment to extension/outreach/public service efforts of the university.
Crystal is from Fort Bragg, California and is working on her Ph.D. under Rhonda Miller and Jeff Savell. Crystal’s teaching activities have included serving as a lab instructor and teaching assistant in ANSC 117, Texas Barbecue; ANSC 307, Meats; ANSC 447, Advanced Meat Science; ANSC 337, Meat Merchandising; ANSC 317, Meat Selection, Evaluation, and Grading, and working with the Meat Judging Team serving as assistant coach in 2013 and as the coach of the 2014 Reserve National Champion Team. Crystal was recognized for her outstanding teaching by receiving the Ronnie L. Edwards Graduate Student Teaching Award in 2014. Her research activities include various quality and product development projects, and her extension/outreach/public service activities include Beef 101, Beef 706, Pork 101, 4-H Ambassador Program, Aggie Processed Meat School, Creative Sausage Making, Camp Brisket, Barbecue Summer Camp, Grassfed Beef Conference, and as a Product Show Judge for the Texas Association of Meat Processors Convention.
Congratulations to Michael and Crystal for receiving the Carpenter Award for 2015.