GIBBS & SOELL AND NATIONAL AGRI-MARKETING ASSOCIATION NAME STUDENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

-- Two Future Farmers of America Students from New York City Recognized for Academic Excellence in Animal Science by NAMA Eastern Chapter --

Key Messages:

• National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is the nation’s largest professional association for professionals in marketing and agribusiness.
• Gibbs & Soell is the perennial no. 1 U.S. agricultural PR agency (AgriMarketing magazine) and the 11^th largest independent public relations agency in the United States (O’Dwyer’s 2009 PR Agency Report).
• Gibbs & Soell and National Agri-Marketing Association award grants to two animal science students at John Bowne High School in New York City. Recipients of grants are promising Future Farmers of America (FFA) students studying animal science. 

New York, June 19, 2009 – The Eastern Chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) and Gibbs & Soell Public Relations recently awarded $500 scholastic grants to Katherine Vegas and Nigel Calderon, two Future Farmers of America (FFA) students graduating from the John Bowne High School class of 2009. 

The grants, sponsored by NAMA and Gibbs & Soell Public Relations, were presented to Vegas and Calderon for their outstanding scholastic achievement and contributions to the FFA program at the school.  Making the presentation was Catherine Wang, NAMA Eastern Chapter president and an agribusiness communications professional at Gibbs & Soell.

John Bowne High School, located in Flushing, N.Y., has a specialized agriculture program that is nationally recognized as an outstanding urban agricultural education offering.  The school’s agriculture program is the most extensive of its kind in the state.  

A graduating senior of the animal science program, Vegas has been an FFA member for her entire four years of high school.  She plans to study wildlife management at the State University of New York – Cobleskill.  As an agriculture major, Calderon gained broad experience in animal health studies on the Small Animal Care and Exotic Animal teams at John Bowne. He plans a career in zoology or veterinarian medicine.

“Katherine, Nigel and the other John Bowne High School students represent the future of the agriculture industry,” Wang said.  “By recognizing the achievements of these hard-working students, we hope that they are encouraged to vigorously pursue their careers in animal health.”

The National Agri-Marketing Association is a non-profit organization of more than 3,500 professional and student members, serving the food and fiber industry. Focused on its members' professional development, NAMA provides access to solutions and opportunities in Agribusiness. For more information on NAMA, visit www.nama.org.

Founded in 1971, Gibbs & Soell is the 11th largest independent public relations agency in the U.S. (O’Dwyer’s 2009 PR Agency Report).  Headquartered in New York City, G&S has full-service offices in Chicago, Raleigh, N.C. and Zurich, Switzerland.  The G&S global network includes Cosmo PR in Tokyo, Inhere Communications in Beijing and Shanghai, BitnerGoodman in Miami, and the Public Relations Organisation International partnership. For more information, please visit www.gibbs-soell.com.

Contact:
Mary C. Buhay

Gibbs & Soell Public Relations

(212) 697-2600

mbuhay@gibbs-soell.com