Georgia agricultural leaders are starting a University of
Georgia
scholarship honoring the late Sen. Paul Coverdell. It will be
awarded annually to a student in the UGA College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences.
“This scholarship is being established in Sen.
Coverdell’s
name by the agricultural associations and industries in
Georgia,”
said Gary Black, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council.
“It’s a unified effort to recognize all that the senator
did for agriculture in the state.”
Honoring a Truly Great
Statesman
Gale Buchanan, dean and director of UGA CAES, said the
scholarship
“honors a truly great statesman, who was a friend and
supporter
of agriculture. Sen. Coverdell understood and appreciated the
importance and role that research, extension and teaching
programs
play in support of that industry.”
The scholarship was announced, appropriately, at the National
Symposium on the Future of American Agriculture Aug. 10-11 in
Athens. Coverdell, who served on the Senate agricultural
committee,
began the symposium in 1999.
In a moving tribute to the late senator, UGA Vice President
for Academic Affairs and Provost Karen Holbrook said, “Sen.
Coverdell’s investment in establishing this symposium is just
one of his contributions to the industry. He was also a tireless
advocate for agricultural research funding.”
Secured Research Funds to Fight
TSWV
Among other contributions, Coverdell helped get research
funding
that led to a formula for containing tomato spotted wilt virus,
a disease that cost Georgia farmers $28 million in 1999 for
peanut
growers alone.
“He was an extremely kind and thoughtful individual who
always worked quietly to get things done,” said Buchanan
of the late senator. “A scholarship would be an excellent
way to preserve the legacy of this great man and great friend
of agriculture.”
To create an endowed scholarship at UGA, a minimum of $25,000
is needed. More than $10,000 was raised in the first two days.
Contributions may be made to the University of Georgia
Foundation
and designated to the Coverdell Scholarship.
Mail contributions to Louise Hill, Office of Development,
Four
Towers, Athens, GA 30602. To learn more about the scholarship,
call Hill at (706) 542-3390.
