Jessica Casaday from Jefferson and Matthew Cooper from Flowery Branch are the recipients of the prestigious Larry Allen Student Leadership Awards presented annually by the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said recipients must exemplify the characteristics demonstrated and encouraged by Dr. Larry D. Allen, Agriculture Division Chair at ABAC from 1994 to 2005.  The characteristics include solid academic performance, strong leadership skills, devotion to the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and ABAC, and a genuine desire to make the world a better place.

Casaday is a junior pursuing the bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, and Cooper is a junior majoring in the wildlife track of the bachelor’s degree in natural resource management.

Casaday has served as president of the ABAC Collegiate FFA for the past two years.  She holds both state and national FFA degrees and has served as an official judge at the state and national FFA conventions.  She is also a member of the Horticulture Club, where she was the reporter.

“Jessica is of the highest character,” Dr. Frank Flanders said in his recommendation.  “She is a leader, a team player, and a big asset to ABAC.  She is well-liked by faculty, administrators, and her fellow students.”

Cooper served as president of the ABAC Wildlife Society this year and was a key component of the ABAC team which coordinated and hosted The Wildlife Society Southeastern Student Conclave in March. The event attracted 359 registrants from 21 colleges and universities from across the nation.  Cooper was also a member of the ABAC Quiz Bowl team at the Wildlife Society’s annual conference and participated in other club events such as Jake’s Day and wood duck box construction.

“Matthew has proven to be an extremely effective leader and has performed exceptionally well with all responsibilities that have been given to him,” Dr. William Moore said in his recommendation.  “He is dedicated, has an outstanding work ethic, and has always taken the initiative to get the work done before even being asked.”