Serving Animal Industries

Hello and welcome to the University of Nebraska and the Animal Science Department!

We would like to take a moment to introduce you to the Animal Science Graduate Student Association (ASGSA). The ASGSA mission is to bring students together across and within discipline with professional and social events. We strive to maintain participation of students in each discipline within Animal Science as this promotes interaction of students beyond the academic setting and builds valuable relationships for the future. This interaction among students occurs during fundraising events, social gatherings, committee meetings, and community service.

Becoming an ASGSA member has many benefits. You will have the opportunity to meet industry and academic representatives in addition to getting to know your peers and faculty more closely. As a committee member or executive officer, you will be given the chance to hone your leadership, interpersonal, and professional skills. Additionally, being an ASGSA member is economically advantageous because the association provides funds for professional purposes.

The association's fundraisers are designed and carried out by members of ASGSA. We have an ongoing fundraiser of selling clothing and hats embroidered with the department's logos. Traditionally, our most successful fundraiser is our annual Thanksgiving Turkey sale. The turkey sales event is well received and respected on and off campus because the turkeys are fresh, Nebraska grown turkeys. The purpose of the fundraiser is two-fold. First, the money is used for helping the members of ASGSA afford the expense associated with attending professional meetings. Second, this gives members the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal basis.

In addition to our traditional fundraiser, the association is currently undertaking the goals of establishing a scholarship fund for outstanding graduate students. Events planed as part of this project include luncheons and a golf tournament. Industry and alumni support have been, and will continue to be critical to our success at reaching this goal.

Social gatherings given new students the opportunity to meet other students and faculty. Every year ASGSA hosts several social events. Each fall members gather to watch a UNL football game together. The annual Cook Off contest is held in conjunction with the game. Students and faculty compete for bragging rights of being crowned "King of the Pit."

Please consider this my personal invitation to join ASGSA. We look forward to seeing you at our meetings and events. Notices of meetings are electronically mailed to all graduate students and fliers are posted around the Animal Science building. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything that ASGSA can do to help you make your transition to the Animal Science Department easier. On behalf of all ASGSA members, we wish you a heart-felt welcome and luck in your program.

President - Joel Johnson

Vice President - Jeremy Howard

Treasurer - Adrienne Batnagar

Secretary -Julie Tart

Sargent at Arms - Kari Gillespie

GSA Representatives - Tom Murphy and Kim Varnold

Animal Science Graduate Committee Representative - Erin Hinkle

Senior Faculty Advisor - Dr. Steve Jones

Junior Faculty Advisor - Dr. Samodha Fernando