Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University Sustainability Coordinator Christine Lashley and senior landscape architecture major Caitlin Buckner of Starkville work to install cedar steps during a workday to help build the MSU Community Garden. Additional workdays, open to all members of the campus and local community, are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. As part of Earth Week on Friday, MSU will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the community garden in the landscape architecture facility's courtyard. See more about Earth Week at https://www.facebook.com/msstatesustainability. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Bagley College of Engineering honors 10 alums as 2017 Distinguished Fellows
Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering honored 10 alumni for their accomplishments and commitment to the field of engineering at the 2017 Distinguished Fellows banquet in late March. The Distinguished Fellows program began in 1991 when 100 alumni were honored to celebrate the college’s 100th anniversary. Now, each spring, new alumni fellows are selected to recognize not only their great commitment to the engineering field, but also to represent the best and brightest that Bagley College has to offer.

LEAP program now accepting applications
The 2017 Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals (LEAP) program at Mississippi State is now accepting applications. The goal and purpose of LEAP is to empower new supervisors and extremely high performing professional staff with a heightened self-awareness, advanced knowledge, and value-added leadership in a secure, but challenging environment. As a result of the program, participants increase the capacity to lead themselves, other individuals, and a university unit or organization.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local political campaigning underway this year, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review the policy in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

New opportunities with Maroon Volunteer Center
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community on its website and in its newsletter this week, including Get Ready to Run, Canoe Day at the Noxubee Refuge, MSU Community Garden Service Days, Starkville Manor Prom Throwback, Operation Gratitude, Habitat for Humanity, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription, privacy and more.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 04/17/17
Softball plays Alcorn State on the road at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, and then hosts Arkansas with games on Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 6 p.m. ... Baseball is on the road Tuesday for a game against South Alabama at 6:30 p.m., and then hosts Alabama with games on Thursday at 6 p.m., Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. ... The SEC Women's Tennis Championship starts Thursday ... The SEC Men's Golf and Women's Golf Championships start Friday ... Track & Field competes Friday and Saturday at the LSU Alumni Gold.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and MAFES announce annual achievement honorees
Nearly two dozen Mississippi State faculty, staff and students are 2017 selections for major awards in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. At the recent campus ceremony recognizing teaching, research and service achievements, George Hopper -- dean of the college and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station -- praised the honorees for “exemplifying the dedication to excellence in all aspects of the university’s land-grant mission.”

Adkerson receives prestigious PGA distinction
Jeff Adkerson, director of MSU’s PGA Golf Management program, is receiving a distinguished recognition from golf’s leading organization. Adkerson has completed the requirements to become a Professional Golfers’ Association Master Professional in Golf Operations. The MSU alumnus is one of approximately 350 people to earn the distinction since the PGA Master Professional program’s inception in 1969.

Buys honored with MS-AND Magnolia Award
The Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, or MS-AND, has named David Buys as a recipient of one of its most distinguished awards. A Mississippi State University Extension Service health specialist, Buys was presented with the MS-AND Magnolia Award earlier this month. The Magnolia Award recognizes individuals outside of the dietetics profession who make significant contributions to the field. It is one of four awards MS-AND makes each year.