Three U of A students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences recently claimed first-place awards in a national contest sponsored by Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

Evan Buckner won the Division I Undergraduate Oral Presentation category with his research, "Effects of Planting Population and Soil Fertility on Tar Spot of Corn."

Tatum Simms won the Division I Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences Graduate Research Poster category with the entry, "Electrochemically Precipitated Struvite Effects on Soil Profile Phosphorus Distribution Following Multiple Leachings."

Keia Jones claimed first place in the Division I Graduate Oral Research category with her presentation, "Evaluating the Economics of Gluten-Free Households."

Jones also placed second in the Research Discussion category and second in the Three-Minute Thesis contest.

Buckner is a senior in crop science; Simms is a Ph.D. student in crop, soil and environmental sciences; and Jones is a master's degree student in agricultural economics.

MANRRS is a non-profit organization promoting academic and professional advancement in agricultural sciences and related fields among ethnic minorities. It initiates and participates in activities and programs, and works for the inclusion, achievement and advancement of all people in agricultural sciences. The national society welcomes membership of all racial and ethnic group participation, and attempts to provide networks to support professional development of minorities.

More on U of A's MANRRS chapter is here. For information on meeting times and dates, news and more, email manrrs@uark.edu, and follow on Instagram and Facebook.

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. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

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 fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A 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.