|
Retirement party set for long-time home economist |
|
Monday, 22 June 2009 |
 submitted photo by Gwen Sisson/SDN Grenell Rogers, long-time area home economist and current interim director of the Oktibbeha County office for the Mississippi State Extension Service, is retiring after 30 years of service. A retirement party in Rogers’ honor is being held from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Building B at the Bost Extension Center on the MSU campus. By GWEN SISSON
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Grenell Rogers said what she loves most about her work at the Oktibbeha County Extension Office is helping others.
And those she has helped during her more than years at the Extension Service will be honoring her today with a retirement reception.
The reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Bost Extension Center’s Building B on the Mississippi State University campus. The public is invited to celebrate with Rogers.
Rogers currently serves as the interim director of the Oktibbeha County Extension Office and family resource management area agent, as well as serving as project administrator for the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Program. She has been a home economist, area home economist, and 4-H agent over the years, working with the Mississippi State Extension Service for 30 years.
“We all need to offer our thanks to Grenell for what she has meant to Oktibbeha County, the Northeast Region and to MSU-ES,” said Bill Herndon, director of the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center. “Grenell will certainly be missed by all of us ... and I remain reluctant to accept her retirement.”
Rogers started her career in the Lee County Extension Service in Tupelo as a secretary in March to August 1979. She then moved to the Leake County Extension Office in September 1979 until March 1981 and served as Extension 4-H Youth Agent.
She moved to Starkville in April 1981 and has served as Extension 4-H youth agent, Extension home economist, area Extension home economist in Oktibbeha and Clay counties.
In July 2002, she became the family resource management area agent for Mississippi State University Extension Service and served the Lower Northeast District, which consisted of 10 counties.
“She is very involved in community projects and various professional associations and will be missed by all who have had the pleasure of knowing her,” said Linda Gail Ballard of the Oktibbeha County Extension Service.
Her passion for her work stems from growing up in the 4-H program and the influence of the leadership within that program.
“As a youth and growing up in 4-H, I loved the experience and opportunities that I received from my 4-H leader, Flossie Dillard and my mother Nancy Thompson, both deceased and my 4-H Agents, Mrs. Daniels and Mr. Gilliams,” Rogers said. “I wanted to give back to community.”
Rogers received an executive secretarial science degree in 1973 from the Memphis School of Commerce in Memphis. She is a 1976 graduate of Mississippi State University, where she received a bachelor of science degree in home economics. She is a 1977 graduate of the Mississippi State University master’s degree program in Agricultural and Extension Education/Counseling.
She has received too many awards for an extensive list, but in 2006, she received the MSU Outstanding Extension Worker of the Year. And in 2008, she received the Extension Educator of the Year Regional Award, winning first place (National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences) (State winner); the 2008 Community Partnership Team Award first place Regional (National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences) (State winner); 2008 Education Curriculum Team Award first place Regional and third place National (National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences) (State winner); and the 2008 National Extension Educator of the Year Regional Award winner (State winner).
Earlier this year, during Black History Month, Rogers was the Institution of Higher Learning’s honoree for Mississippi State University Extension Service .
And if she is not busy enough, she is a member of the Mississippi Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Formerly Mississippi Extension Home Economics Association).
For more information about the retirement reception, contact the Oktibbeha County Extension office at 323-5916.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 June 2009 )
|
