Food Science News

Summer 2003

Vol. 31, No. 2

In memory of Dr. Marvin Speck

Dr. Marvin Speck of Raleigh, NC died on January 22, 2003. He was 89 years old. Dr. Speck was born in Maryland in 1913 and earned his BS and MS degrees from the University of Maryland and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He joined the faculty at NC State University in 1947 and held appointments in both the Food Science and Microbiology Departments. He taught the core course in Food Microbiology for many years and directed a research group that investigated the presence and roles of both lactic acid bacteria and pathogens in foods. He retired as a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in 1979. He and his colleagues developed Sweet AcidophilusÔ milk using a novel approach to bacterial cell concentration and stabilization and started a research program to investigate probiotic culture and their influence on the intestinal microflora and human health. He was the initial editor of the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods, a seminal publication summarizing methods to isolate, enumerate and identify microorganisms associated with foods. This text was the first of its kind and is a requisite reference for working food microbiologists. Among the many honors earned by Dr. Speck is the prestigious Borden Award, conferred by the American Dairy Science Association and received by him in 1959. In 1967, Dr. Speck won the ADSA Pfizer Award for his work on the preservation of lactic acid bacteria and culture concentrates. Today, Marvin Speck is remembered for his pioneering work with lactic acid bacteria and probiotics. It is in his wake that the global research community is rapidly advancing down a path to discover the benefits provided by lactic probiotics and define the mechanisms through which these microbes impact health and well being. We will miss him.

New Graduate Students

Andriana Vais Schirack earned her master's degree here and is back to earn her Ph.D. in Dr. K.P. Sandeep's lab

Elissa Caudle is a Master's student working in Dr. MaryAnne Drake's lab.

Adam Croissant - is also a Master's student working in Dr. MaryAnne

Drake's lab.

Melissa Funke - is a Master's student in Dr. Chris Daubert's lab.

Greg Gharst - is a Master's student in Dr. Sophia Kathariou's lab.

Two Awards for Dr. John Rushing

The Southeastern Food Processors Association has chosen to honor Dr. John E. Rushing of North Carolina State University by establishing an endowed scholarship at NCSU in his name. Dr. Rushing is a professor and Department Extension Leader in the Department of Food Science. He specializes in issues of food processing and safety and has worked with the food processing industry in North Carolina and the Southeast for 21 years. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Food Processors Association and has worked with them to provide food science scholarships for students in regional land grant universities. The Southeastern Food Processors Association Scholarship Honoring Dr. John Rushing will be awarded to deserving students annually. This endowment ceremony was on April 23, 2003. Honored guests were Dr. Joe Zublena, Dr. Barbara Kirby and Mr. Marion Swink, president of SFPA.

Dr. Rushing, was also recently honored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for his work as a member of the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) HACCP Committee Pilot Plant Evaluation Team. At an award ceremony on June 13, Dr. Rushing and his team colleagues received FDA's Group Recognition Award "for exceptional teamwork across FDA organizations and our stakeholders in evaluation of an NCIMS HACCP pilot as a voluntary alternative to assure the safety of Grade A milk products" and because he provided invaluable assistance to FDA and his accomplishments impact the well-being of the public. Congratulations again Dr. Rushing

New Staff Members

Joy Marie Wright is a research assistant and is working in Dr. Lanier's lab.

Dr. Michael Miller is a research associate post-doc and is working in Dr. Klaenhammer's lab.

Dr. Patricio Carvajal who recently earned his Ph.D. at NCSU, is a research associate post-doc in Dr. Lanier's lab.

Hengameh Allen is a research post-doc working in Dr. Leon Boyd's lab. Heggie is a recent Ph.D. graduate of our department.

William Carl Hollifield has taken the Dairy Accounting Clerk position vacated by Sue Misra.

Sue Misra has taken the accounting position for the department vacated by Sharon Adams.

Patricia (Trish) Cahoon is the new public information assistant at CMAST. This position was formerly held by Lorraine DiBella. Trish was previously with Hyde County Schools.

Dorin Boldor is a new post doc working in Dr. Tim Sanders' lab. Dorin received his Ph.D. degree here.

Congratulations to the new parents in our department, Ming Li, Qixin Zhong, Natasha Evans, Cristina & Dorin Boldor and Tara Kurtz.

Graduation, Spring 2003

Graduation was on May 17, 2003 at the RBC center. Later, at the department, the graduates received their diplomas. The Bachelor of Science recipients were Melissa Funke, Crushonda Todd, Sandra Wright and Kim Grant. The recipients of the Master of Science degrees were Nikkisha Young, Joshua Carlson and Trivette Vaughan. Laura Reina and Patricio Carvajal earned their Ph.D. degrees.

Dr. Kenneth R. Swartzel was elected by the ASAE (Americn Society of Agricultural Engineers) Board of Trustees to the grade of AASAE Fellow. This is an honorary status to engineers of distinction who have made significant contributions to the profession of Agricultural Engineering. He was presented with his award in Las Vegas on July 29, 2003.

Dr. Allen Foegeding won the prestigious IFT Research and Development Award. This award honors an IFT member who has made a recent, significant research and development contribution to the understanding of food science, food technology or nutrition. The contribution may be basic or applied in nature and must advance science or improve the human condition. Congratulations to Allen for this high award and well-deserved recognition.

Dr. MaryAnne Drake, associate professor of sensory quality and food microbiology, was awarded the prestigious and significant 2003 American Dairy Science Association Dairy Foods Award sponsored by the ADSA Foundation . This award recognizes a young scientist for their research and educational leadership in areas critical to the future of the dairy industry. This award was presented at the awards ceremony during the 2003 ADSA and ASAS joint annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona on June 22, 2003. Congratulations Dr. Drake.

Barry Nash of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) has received 3 awards for his outstanding service to the North Carolina Seafood Industry. Barry is the winner of the 2003 Outstanding Extension Service Award and induction into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty Engaged in Extension (AOFEE); the 2003 Human Resources Award for Excellence from the vice-chancellor's Office for Research and Graduate Studies; and the 2003 Alumni Outstanding Extension and Outreach Award by the NC State Alumni Association. Three awards! Congratulations Barry!

Dr. Dan Carroll was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture/Eastern Section (ASEV/ES). This award was presented at the Awards Banquet, 28^th Annual Conference of ASEV/ES, held at the Radisson Hotel in Corning, NY, July 9-11, 2003. The award is given to an individual for their contributions to the advancement of the enology and viticulture of grapes grown in the eastern US and Canada. Dr. Carroll was cited for his contributions in research, extension, leadership and service to ASEV/ES. Congratulations Dr. Carroll!

The Pride of the Wolfpack award was received by Ms. Lisa Gordon for her dedication and contributions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Lisa has been the Extension secretary in our department for 19 years. Congratulations Lisa!

Alumni News

Ana luisa Abritta is a stay-at-home mom. Her daughter, Julia Abritta Villa was born on September 1, 2002. They live in Boynton Beach, FL. Anabritta@yahoo.com

Michelle L. Head defended her thesis in March 2002, got married in April 2002 and started working at General Mills in Minneapolis, MN. She works in the baking products group. Her address is 7201 Walker St., #102, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Michelle.head@genmills.com

Janelle Howe-Elmore, 1991 MS completed her Ph.D. degree in Food Science in 1996 under the direction of Dr. Hildegarde Heymann at the University of Missouri-Columbia. From 1996 to 2000 she worked at S.C. Johnson in Racine, WI as an Associate Sensory Manager and from 2000-2001 she worked for ConAgra Grocery Products in Irvine, CA as a Sensory Development Manager. From 2001 to the present she is a consumer and sensory research consultant at Elmore Consulting http://www.ElmoreConsulting.com) in Columbia, MO.

Diego Darquea returned from a 2.5 year assignment in Mexico to General Mills in Minneapolis, MN in June 2002. He continues to work with CPW (Cereal Partners Worldwide - a joint venture with Nestle) in an R&D function, responsible for developing new products, processes and platforms while providing technical support to the Latin American and European CPW factories. Along with his wife, Maria Jose and this son Diego Jose, he welcomes has daughter Mikaela into the family in March, 2003. They are living at 17033 79^th Avenue N., Maple Grove, MN, 55311. Darquea-juris@attbi.com.

Best wishes to Dr. Allen Foegeding and JoAnna Tharrington on their marriage on February 7, 2003.

Best wishes to Lisa Papageorge and Rodolphe Barrangou-Poueys were married on December 12, 2002.

In Memory of Dr. Thomas Nelson Blumer

Dr. Thomas Nelson Blumer, Professor Emeritus of Food Science, died March 3, 2003, in Raleigh. Dr. Blumer was born October 29, 1914, in Fredonia, Pennsylvania. He obtained his BS degree in Animal Husbandry in 1939 from Pennsylvania State College and his Ph.D. degree in Food Technology in 1954 from Michigan State College.

Dr. Blumer joined the Department of Animal Industry at North Carolina State College as an Assistant Professor in 1945, after having served as a Meats Specialist with the National Live Stock Meat Board (1941-42) and with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps (1942-45). He became a Professor in 1959 and joined the Department of Food Science upon its formation in 1961. He became Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 1980.

Dr. Blumer was a researcher, teacher, and collaborator with extension faculty. As a researcher, he is best known for his research, which changed the “art” of curing country-style hams to a “science. Dr. Blumer’s research involved various aspects of the ham curing process, including preservation and quality characteristics. His research also included basic and applied problems related to the quality and palatability of beef and pork. Awards received in recognition of his scientific accomplishments include the F.C. Vibrans Senior Scientific Award sponsored by the American Meat Institute Foundation, the Reciprocal Meat Conference Award for Signal Service, the North Carolina Country Ham Producer's Association Meritorious Service Award, and Gamma Sigma Delta’s Certificate of Merit.

Dr. Blumer was an influential teacher and advisor of numerous undergraduate and graduate students. He taught formal courses in meat processing and meat quality evaluation.

(Submitted by Dr. Henry P. Fleming, Professor Emeritus of Food Science, retired USDA-ARS employee, and MS student and associate of Dr. Blumer. May 6, 2003.)

Students Win Awards

The Institute of Food Technologists awarded IFT Fellowships for the 2003-2004 academic year to Lisa Barrangou and Jonathan Firebaugh, graduate students. They also honored Jacob Thompson with a Junior/Senior scholarship for the 2003-2004 academic year.

At the IFT annual meeting in Chicago, July 15-19,2003, Mary Carunchia-Whetstine won 1^st place in the Dairy Foods Division Oral Student Paper Competion; Matt Taylor won 1^st place in the Food Microbiology Division Oral Student Paper Competiton and Stephenie Drake won 2^nd place in the Food Microbiology Division Oral Student Paper Competition. Congratulations people! Also the NC State University Food Science Club won 2^nd place in the Chapter of the Year competition.

The newly elected officers of the Food Science Club for 2003 - 2004 are as follows: Brad Wright, President; Vera Price, Vice-President; Tristan Berry, Secretary; Mary Whetstine, Treasurer; Julie Eledah, Historian; Activities Co-Chairs, Greg Gharst & Rodney Green; Ag-Life Reps., Erin Kenrick and Tiffany Brinley. Congratulations to all.

Parting Words from the FS Club President, Katie Cleary

The 2002-2003 year was a fun and exciting one for the NCSU Food Science Club. Thanks to the hard work of our Activities chairs, the year started off on a fun note with the New Student Party, Fall Kickoff, and a trip to a Durham Bulls Baseball game. Of course, come October, we were all hard at work scooping ice cream. Despite a few rainy and chilly days during the State Fair, the club and co-chairs managed to break some Dairy Bar records, and we had a very successful year selling ice cream. After the fair we got to kick back and relax at the Halloween party. Other fun events throughout the school year included going to the batting cages and a Hurricanes hockey game. Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games! Various members of the club were hard at work scooping ice cream at the Walk for Hope, working on a house for Habitat for Humanity, and judging a science fair at a nearby elementary school. The Product Development and College Bowl teams also worked hard. Despite many hours of intense efforts, the College Bowl team fell to a strong Georgia team in the final round at the regional competition in Gainesville, Florida, and the Product Development team missed the finals with their “Griller Spuds” grillable mashed potato product. But, as they say, there’s always next year, and both teams are to be congratulated for their strong efforts.

I would like to thank everyone for all their hard work throughout the year, and wish good luck to next year’s club and executive committee!