AMES, Iowa – Both were nine-year 4-H members and Operation: Military Kids (OMK) interns. On May 10, both will be graduates of Iowa State University with degrees in agricultural education, communications option. And this year, both Victoria Birkenholtz and Rachel McCulloh have been recognized for their work as student employees by receiving the 2008 ISU Students of Distinction award.
Birkenholtz was nominated by Chris Gleason, director of OMK, for her work with the program during the 2007 summer, and McCulloh was nominated by Levon Esters, ISU agricultural education and studies associate professor as an undergraduate research assistant. While their duties varied, their dedication and determination in their jobs were the things that both employers noticed and appreciated.
“Victoria is a valuable member of the Operation: Military Kids team and deserves a lot of credit for the success of the program,” said Gleason. “She delivers projects ahead of schedule, her work is always of the highest quality and she exceeds my expectations on many levels.”
As an OMK intern, Birkenholtz organized a variety of programs that were focused on supporting military children and families. Among her favorites were a reserve family enrichment weekend designed for families who had recently returned soldiers. While the parents were in informational meetings, Birkenholtz and her fellow OMK interns organized journal activities, crafts, interactive games and sharing experiences for the children.
With the knowledge of a previous internship and a previous horse-project 4-H'er, she also enjoyed developing a therapeutic horse-riding program as a new aspect of OMK. It was put into practice with the Sioux City STARS as a way to help families become a team again when a soldier returns home, and the response was very positive. These actions impressed Gleason, but Birkenholtz sees them as a result of her previous 4-H experiences.
“I attribute a lot of my skills to 4-H. The things that are on the poster really happened to me,” she said, referring to a common 4-H poster that describes 4-H’s five outcomes of youth as leadership, citizenship, communication, knowledge and personal life management.
Esters also described McCulloh as a valuable student employee who went beyond the usual responsibilities of her job as an undergraduate research assistant, even though the job was originally designed for a graduate student.
“Rachel has consistently shown that she can perform at and above the level expected of most graduate students. Her performance is primarily a result of her level of maturity and extraordinary willingness to learn,” Esters said. “She is a highly intelligent and disciplined individual who puts forth maximum effort in every endeavor she undertakes.”
Beginning her freshman year in Spring 2005, McCulloh has spent the past three and a half years assisting Esters in conducting statistical analysis research and helping tabulate, write and present research results. She has also co-authored two peer-reviewed, scholarly articles and written one on her own that was published in Agricultural Education Magazine. Citing her 4-H experiences, McCulloh believes that previous work with helping young 4-H'ers set goals has carried over easily to her work with Esters.
“4-H gave me the ability to set personal goals and then work to complete them. With Dr. Esters there has been a lot of independent work that has forced me to again set goals and meet standards,” she said.
Receiving the award was something neither anticipated, but they were both grateful to their respective employers for taking the time to recognize them.
“I am really grateful to Chris and Chris (Cook-Leitz) who took the time to fill out the paperwork,” Birkenholtz said. “Truthfully there are a lot of great student employees but because of the job they did on the application, I got the award.”
McCulloh echoed her thoughts. “I am extremely appreciative of this nomination and award by Dr. Esters,” she said. “It’s nice to know that following your interests and having a good work ethic can be acknowledged.”
Upon graduation, McCulloh will be employed with Agri-Serve Inc. as a marketing representative throughout Iowa and parts of bordering states. Birkenholtz will serve a second summer with OMK before her wedding date in September.
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Carol Ouverson, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-9640, couverso@iastate.edu
Hannah McCulloh, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515) 294-7581,