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2022 ACES Funk Awards recipients recognized

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URBANA, Ill. – Each year the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences recognizes faculty, staff, and graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements or exceptional service to the college.

The awards program was established in 1970 by the Paul A. Funk Foundation of Bloomington, as a memorial to the late Paul A. Funk, who attended the college as a member of the class of 1929 and devoted his life to agriculture.

This year’s recipients include the following Extension specialists:

Faculty Award for Global Impact, Robert Knox
Animal Sciences professor and Extension faculty specialist

Knox is a visionary leader in international education and training in swine reproduction who is involved in education and technology transfer for domestic and foreign producers, other scientists, veterinarians, and industry specialists. He collaborates with domestic and foreign scientists, government representatives, commodity associations, and producers. Knox identifies opportunities for advancing fertility and solving reproductive problems important to the global swine industry.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Phil Cardoso
Animal Sciences associate professor and Extension faculty specialist

Cardoso focuses on delivering information that is appropriate to the age and experience of his audience, presenting to students, professors, veterinarians, dairy producers, farm staff, and others associated with the dairy industry. Through Extension, he assists producers who will foster innovation in the dairy industry. His Dairy Nutrition and Reproduction website is a trusted source for up-to-date information on nutrition, reproduction, management, and more.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Extension
Amy Fischer, Animal Sciences teaching associate professor, Extension faculty specialist
Melissa Pflugh Prescott, Food Science and Human Nutrition assistant professor of school/childhood foods and nutrition

Fischer is a pioneer in companion animal education, care and coordination. She is the co-founder of the Central Illinois Animal Welfare Coalition that led her to research exploring non-surgical alternatives for companion animal population control.

Prescott investigates strategies to maximize healthy food behaviors and help families and schools reduce costs associated with food waste. She has received more than $3.6 million in grants to support her community-based programs and research. One project implemented and evaluated strategies for schools to encourage meal participation, vegetable consumption, and plate waste reduction.

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