Amanda McWhirt, a horticulture Cooperative Extension specialist and faculty member in U of A's Department of Horticulture, has been honored by the American Society of Horticultural Science.

McWhirt was named winner of the 2023 Early Career Extension and Outreach Award, while several other award winners have connections to the department and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Eric Stafne received the Outstanding Extension Educator Award, Derek Barchenger the Early Career Research Innovation and Creativity Career Award, and Mark Van Iersel received the Outstanding Researcher career award posthumously.

In addition, Gary Stutte was named a fellow of ASHS, and Mengmeng Gu is vice president and a board member of the organization.

Stafne, Barchenger, Van Iersel, Stutte and Gu are all alumni of the U of A and the horticulture program.

The department focuses on sustainable horticulture, landscape and ornamentals, production (fruits, vegetables and ornamentals) and turfgrass science.

ASHS announced six fellows and nine career awardees for 2023, and five have ties to the U of A and Bumpers College.

ASHS is committed to promoting and encouraging national and international interest in scientific research and education in all branches of horticulture. Composed of thousands of members worldwide, ASHS represents a broad cross-section of the horticultural community - scientists, educators, students, landscape and turf managers, government, extension agents and industry professionals. Members focus on practices and problems in horticulture: breeding, propagation, production and management, harvesting, handling and storage, processing, marketing and use of horticultural plants and products.

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: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.