FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Eleven Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences students in crop, soil and environmental sciences at the U of A recently won 18 awards at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Southern Weed Science/Weed Science Society of America meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Reio Salas, Chris Meyer, Ryan Miller, Chris Rouse, Jeremy Green, Ralph Hale, Travis Jones, Steven Martin, Spencer McCown, Matheus Palhano and Nicholas Steppig combined for two regional outstanding student awards, and eight first, five second and three third-place awards at the national meeting.

Salas earned Outstanding Ph.D. Student honors and Meyer the Outstanding M.S. Student award from the Southern Weed Science Society.

Salas, who is from Leyte, Philippines, is working on a doctorate in crop, soil and environmental sciences. With direction from professor Nilda Burgos and extension weed scientist Robert Scott, her research is focused on nontarget-site herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth.

Meyer has already earned his master's degree, in weed science in 2015, and is now pursuing his doctorate in weed science. Directed by professor Jason Norsworthy, his research focuses on the stewardship of glufosinate herbicide in current and future crop technologies. Meyer, who is from Creston, Iowa, has authored six articles for Weed Technology.

In the Ph.D. category of the oral and poster presentation contest, Rouse finished first in his oral presentation and poster sessions, Miller was first in his oral presentation and second in his poster session, Meyer first in his poster session and Salas third in her poster group.

In the master's degree category of the oral and poster presentation contest, McCown won his oral presentation and poster sessions, Palhano was first in oral presentation and second in the poster session, Martin first in oral presentation and third in poster competition, Green and Steppig second in their poster groups, Hale second in oral presentation and Jones third in his poster session.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.