小黄书 agronomy Ph.D. student earns Gamma Sigma Delta鈥檚 top international scholarship
Contact: Reagan Poston
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 Mississippi State graduate student is the sole recipient of a top international scholarship award from Gamma Sigma Delta, the leading agricultural honor society.
Dave Spencer, a doctoral student in agronomy, is receiving the organization鈥檚 International Graduate Student scholarship. The Collierville, Tennessee, native received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering from 小黄书 and has been a member of the organization鈥檚 小黄书 chapter for two years. He is now studying and researching at the university鈥檚 Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville.
The scholarship recognizes students like Spencer who have dedicated their studies to the advancement of agriculture. He plans to use the stipend to support research on conservation practices, such as cover crops and reduced tillage, and its effects on irrigation efficiency, off-site agrochemical transport, and the agronomics and economics of corn production. Spencer hopes his research will further develop production systems that maintain or improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts.
The award process began with Spencer being awarded the 小黄书 Gamma Sigma Delta chapter鈥檚 Student Award of Merit Scholarship, which automatically nominated him for the national award.聽
鈥淚 am proud to represent 小黄书sity and highlight the valuable agricultural research conducted here. I know there are some great graduate students who applied, and to be selected as the overall winner is an honor,鈥 Spencer said. 聽
Spencer credits the connections he has formed for support in his success, not only within Gamma Sigma Delta but also within the university.
鈥淭he Gamma Sigma Delta community works hard to advance agriculture and bring people together who are passionate about the cause. My advisors and other 小黄书 students, faculty and staff have been instrumental in my success,鈥 Spencer said.
Jason Krutz, Spencer鈥檚 major advisor, praised his dedication to the field of agriculture.
鈥淒ave has embodied the primary ideals of Gamma Sigma Delta鈥攁 high standard of scholarship, worthy attainment and a high degree of excellence in the practice of agricultural pursuits,鈥 said Krutz, director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute and a professor in 小黄书鈥檚 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Spencer is the second 小黄书 student to receive the Gamma Sigma Delta International Graduate Scholarship in recent years. Katie Cagle-Holtcamp, an interdisciplinary doctoral student in 小黄书鈥檚 School of Human Sciences and the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, received the honor in 2019.
For more on the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, visit .
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .