UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS STUDENT DIES IN WEEKEND CAR ACCIDENT

Satish Prakash Singh Pradhan

New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal

July 5, 1976 - October 3, 2003

Satish Prakash Singh Pradhan of Kathmandu, Nepal, died Friday, October 3, from injuries sustained during a car accident outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Pradhan was a poultry science graduate student at the University of Arkansas.

Pradhan received his Bachelor of Technology degree in food science from the Central Campus of Technology, Tribhuvan University in Dharan, Nepal. Before arriving at the University of Arkansas in August, Pradhan was a food technologist at Swiss Gourmet Food Company, a producer of meat products in Kathmandu.

Pradhan's area of research focused on evaluating muscle metabolism and meat quality of poultry. He was in the process of evaluating tenderness of minimally aged broiler breast fillets and bone strength from five genetic broiler strains.

Casey Owens, Pradhan's major professor in poultry products, said "Satish had only been here for two months, but he had already made a great impact on us all. He was a caring, respectful person who strived to do his very best each and every day. As his professor, I was impressed by how easily Satish understood complex concepts and put them into action. He was also a pleasure to be around."

Pradhan's uncle, Subarna Pradhan of Downer's Grove, Illinois, is coordinating funeral arrangements in Chicago. A memorial gathering has been arranged at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, October 6.

Pradhan was traveling to Wichita, Kansas, to visit friends when the accident occurred outside of Tulsa.

Pradhan is survived by his parents Ananda and Nanichhori Pradhan, an older brother, Anish Pradhan and an older sister Mumukshu Pradhan, all of which are in the food processing business in Nepal. His father was the first person in Nepal to have earned the Master of Science in Food Technology and is one of the pioneers in the development of the food science and technology sector in that country.

After earning his degree, Pradhan had hoped to set up a meat-processing project as an extension of his family's food business. This project was to be a platform to bring more people together to emphasize the contribution and importance of food science in the development of agro-based nations.

Satish will be missed by all at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science.