Randi Benefield and Kirsten Midkiff have been named winners of the 2022 Dr. Paul Noland Graduate Student Award in U of A's Department of Animal Science.

Each year, the department's graduate student candidates present their current research. The competition evaluates students in three areas: abstract, oral presentation and curriculum vitae. One M.S. and one Ph.D. student are awarded a travel stipend to apply toward travel to regional or national conventions where they are presenting research.

Benefield is the master's degree winner and Midkiff is the Ph.D. recipient. Both will be recognized during the department's awards banquet.

Benefield's presentation was "Influence of Prenatal Exposure to Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue on Glucose Metabolism in Weaned Steer Calves."

Midkiff's presentation was "Comparison of Tulathromycin and Gamithromycin as Metaphylactic Treatment on Growth Performance, Morbidity and Treatment Cost in High-Risk, Newly Received Beef Calves."

Judges for the contest were Sabrina Trudo and Sami Dridi. Trudo is associate professor of nutrition and holder of the 21st Century Endowed Chair in Human Environmental Sciences in the college's School of Human Environmental Sciences. Dridi is professor of avian endocrinology and molecular genetics in the Department of Poultry Science. Beth Kegley, professor of animal science, coordinated the event.  

The award commemorates the legacy of Paul R. Noland, an emeritus professor of animal science at the U of A. After receiving his doctoral degree in 1951 from Cornell University, he joined the U of A faculty. Noland served as department head of animal science from 1988-94, when he retired. In 2015, and the age of 91, Noland passed away.

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