10/18/1999

Richburg Receives Hardee Award

AUBURN, Ala.—Mary Kathryne (Katie) Richburg, a recent graduate of agricultural economics from Auburn University is this year's winner of the Claude Hardee Memorial Award for outstanding student in the College of Agriculture. Ms. Richburg is the second student from the College of Agriculture to receive this award. The first was Wade M. McCollum, a graduate of horticulture/landscape design.

The Claude Hardee Memorial Award was established by the Hardee family and the Alabama Cattlemen's Association to recognize and honor the outstanding senior student in the College of Agriculture and in memory of the late Claude Hardee. The fund chooses the student based on scholarship, leadership, character and integrity. Recipients receive a cash award as well as a commemorative plaque. A permanent plaque bearing the names of each recipient has been placed in Comer Hall on the Auburn University campus. "I had no idea I was even being considered for the it (the award)," said Ms. Richburg, daughter of Mary and Mahlon Richburg of Auburn. "It was quite an honor."

The award should have come as no surprise to Ms. Richburg who has received many other academic awards for achievement and excellence while working on her B.S. degree. She received the highly prestigious President's award for 1999, which is given to a student from each of the colleges at Auburn.

As an undergraduate, Ms. Richburg also received numerous scholarships including the Alabama Cattlewomen's Scholarship, and the Federal Genetics/National FFA Scholarship. She was also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society that recognizes and encourages academic excellence, and the Ag Ambassadors, a select group of men and women dedicated to improving the image and interests in all aspects of agriculture. As an Ag Ambassador Ms. Richburg served as Ag Council representative and senior educational officer.

Currently Ms. Richburg is attending graduate school at Auburn University to receive her MBA in environmental conservation and is working as an intern for the USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service, a Federal agency that works in partnership with American citizens to conserve and sustain the nation's natural resources, as a soil conservation aide.

When asked about her future plans Ms. Richburg replied, "I'm not exactly sure. I want to do something in environmental area." Whatever career field Ms. Richburg chooses, her future will no doubt be bright, and she would likely make the namesake of this recent honor very proud.

Claude Hardee was born in 1912 in Conecuh County, Alabama, and graduated from Auburn University in 1938 with a B.S. in agricultural education. Hardee devoted his life to the betterment of Alabama agriculture. He taught vocational agriculture at Beatrice High School for 30 years until his retirement in 1970. During this time, he inspired many of his students to pursue higher education and careers in agriculture.

As a farmer, Hardee developed a sizeable cattle and timber operation, pioneering and perfecting several practices that are widely used by today's agriculturalists. He was committed to protecting the soil, using soil conservation practices that have become a model for others. Hardee's contributions to the industry earned him places in both the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor and the Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Leigh Hinton, 334-844-5887 or hintola@auburn.edu

10/18/99