November 20-21, 2003

ITEM 121-2001-R1103   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Extension upon Woodrow Ekegren; Montana State University-Bozeman.

 

THAT: Upon the retirement of Woodrow Ekegren from the Montana State University State Extension Office, the board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to Montana State University, the University System, and the people of the state of Montana.

 

EXPLANATION: Woodrow Ekegren received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Montana State University-Bozeman. After teaching in public schools for four years, he became a county agent for the Montana Extension Service, serving in four counties over a period of 18 years. In 1990 he was appointed to the position of Area Supervisor, supervising the county agents in Central Montana. In 1993, he became Statewide Director, increasing the number of agents under his supervision as well as assuming the role of leader for the organization's faculty and staff professional development program. As resources declined, Woody has been asked to assume increasingly larger rolls as a statewide Extension administrator.

Mr. Ekegren has been recognized for his work at the state, regional and national levels. He has been selected as the Montana County Agent of the Year and has received the State Distinguished Service Award of Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Extension Honorary. He has served as Regional Vice Chair of the Extension Program Committee of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, and has served as National Chair of the same Committee. He was also the winner of the Association's Western Region Public Relations Award. He also won the National Association's Achievement Award.

For these reasons, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon Woodrow Ekegren the status of Professor Emeritus of Extension at Montana State University-Bozeman and thanks him for his 32 years of outstanding service to Montana.