FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2011
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
Mount Olive College Collegiate FFA Members and Club Receive State and National Recognition
MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE - Mount Olive College’s Collegiate FFA (CFFA) members and club received recognition during the recently held 83rd North Carolina FFA Convention in Raleigh.With over 2000 FFA members, advisors and guests present at the convention, Mount Olive College CFFA was recognized for its membership, service, and support of FFA and Agriculture Education.
For the third year in a row, the CFFA was awarded the membership growth award for exhibiting an increase in the number of members involved in CFFA at Mount Olive College. With over 35 members CFFA continues to reach out to all students on campus to join this active, community service oriented organization. Students in all curriculums are invited to join and help build a stronger chapter.
The CFFA was also recognized as a Silver Finalist for The National Chapter Award. The National Chapter program is designed to award FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the FFA organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using a Program of Activities that emphasize student, chapter and community development. Quality standards have been developed in each area as minimum requirements for recognition in the National Chapter Award program.
CFFA President Alaina Airheart received the award at the convention and stated, “Mount Olive College’s CFFA and its members work very hard to focus on enhancing the life skills of students by creating leadership opportunities that allow these students to make the campus and general community a better place to live and serve. We are extremely proud and excited to have received this award.”
Pictured: Alaina Airheart
In addition, three Mount Olive College CFFA members and Agriculture Education students were recognized and recommended to receive the American Degree to be awarded at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. IN. in October.
Pictured (L-R): Alaina Airheart, Morgan Honeycutt, and Edward Olive
The students are sophomores Kimberly Ballance from Elizabeth City, Morgan Gay of Rocky Mount and Jessica Gordon of Stanley. The American Degree is awarded to less than one percent of all FFA members nationwide and it is representative of members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to service, leadership and FFA.
Pictured: Students recommended to receive the America Degree at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis are sophomores Kimberly Ballance (l) from Elizabeth City, Morgan Gay (r) of Rocky Mount and Jessica Gordon of Stanley (not pictured).
In addition, CFFA served as a sponsor for the Agricultural Communications Proficiency Award which was awarded to Morgan Honeycutt of the West Johnston FFA Chapter. Alaina Airheart of Mount Pleasant, Morgan Honeycutt of Johnston County and Edward Olive of Benson were sponsors of the State FFA Degree Ceremony. Student Advisor for CFFA, Edward Olive was recognized as the student representative for these events. Olive stated, “It was an honor to serve as the Mount Olive College CFFA representative at the State FFA Convention this past week and to support the continued growth and leadership opportunities that FFA provides students across the state. To have the opportunity to shake the hand of every State FFA Degree Recipient was a personal honor and an opportunity for Mount Olive College as well”.
Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.