A pair of extension agents from Pasco and Hillsborough counties recently received recognition for their work from Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national honorary fraternity for extension specialists and administrators.
Betsy Crisp and Mary Keith received honors announced during the organization’s national convention in Indianapolis on Oct. 8.
Crisp, a family and consumer science agent from Pasco, was the southern regional winner of Epsilon Sigma Phi Diversity Multi-Cultural award for 2014. Keith, an extension agent in Hillsborough, received the Distinguished Service Award for the southern region.
The Alpha Delta Chapter, which represents Florida, also was recognized. It received the Chapter of Merit-Gold Award from the national group. Florida’s Alpha Delta Chapter has 231 active and retired members from the University of Florida and Florida A&M University. The chapter includes county agents, extension specialists and administrators in agriculture, family and consumer science, 4-H youth development, and natural resources.
Epsilon Sigma Phi encourages professional development, and recognizes the achievements of its members across all areas of expertise.
Crisp is a licensed dietitian, who has worked for extension for 27 years. She presents more than 150 programs and reaches almost 8,000 people each year in the areas of food, nutrition, health and safety.
Her Pasco Family Nutrition Program has attracted considerable grant funding for several years. Program assistants and volunteers have delivered classes to people of all ages to help them make healthier food choices, to increase their physical activity, and to improve their health.
The honor she received recognizes her outstanding efforts to develop, achieve and sustain diversity in extension programs.
Crisp previously received the Southern Region’s Continued Excellence Award in 2013, and the Southern Region Distinguished Service Award in 2008.
Daniel Culbert, the outgoing president of the organization’s Florida chapter, has worked with both women for many years, and said via email that he’s proud of both of their accomplishments.
He describes Crisp as “a tireless innovator that never fails to come up with fantastic programs to help the people in her community and state.”
Keith has a wide range of programs flowing in three different areas: food safety, nutrition and child care training, according to her application for the distinguished service award. She often serves as a resource for other agents, writes two newspaper columns and teaches many classes in Spanish, the application notes.
Culbert characterizes Keith as a dedicated extension professional with worldwide experiences from her work with the Peace Corps.
Culbert said he has accompanied Keith to several Epsilon Sigma Phi conferences and has “come to appreciate that her dedication to the human conditions stems from many of her international experiences.”
Published November 5, 2014
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