AAEA’s Academic Quiz Bowl

by James Sterns

Five undergraduate students from the Department of Applied Economics recently attended the national meetings of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.  Roz Patrick, Gerald Hosler, Tyler Knapp, Rich Manuli and Elaine Jordan (pictured left to right) traveled to Minneapolis, MN to participate in the AAEA’s Academic Quiz Bowl.  They were part of a cohort of 82 students from 16 North American universities who competed in the tournament.  As Tyler Knapp noted, “The Quiz Bowl is a great experience that’s both fun and an incredible chance to develop yourself professionally.”  Rich Manuli added,  “I met students and professors from all over, and attended a session where recent graduates who are now working in places like Land O’Lakes, General Mills and Cargill talked about the hiring process and what it takes to succeed in today’s job market.” 

James Sterns, Associate Professor in the Department, is the team’s faculty advisor.  As he told the team, “We’re here to learn, represent Oregon State University on the national stage and make the most of the experience.”  Penny Diebel, Assistant Dean of Academic Programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences, was the first to organize an AEC Quiz Bowl team, leading a group of three students to the AAEA national meetings last year in Washington D.C.  Summarizing the team’s effort, Dr. Sterns noted, “We improved on our performance in the tournament from our first year to our second, and we are looking forward to even greater success in next year’s tournament.”

While at the meeting, two of the students also were completing their terms as national officers in the Undergraduate Student Section of the AAEA.  Serving on the four-member, 2013-14 Executive Committee of the Undergraduate Student Section of the AAEA were Roz Patrick, Vice President, and Gerald Hosler, Public Relations Officer.  The tradition of service on this national committee carried forward to 2015, when Ms. Patrick was elected to be the 2014-15 Section President and Rich Manuli was elected to be the in-coming Vice President.

As of the 2014 fall quarter, Roz and Rich will be AEC seniors, specializing in the department’s Environmental Economics and Policy major.  Elaine Jordan will be a sophomore in the Environmental Economics and Policy major.  Both Gerald Hosler and Tyler Knapp graduated Spring quarter 2014.  Gerald will be continuing his studies at OSU, pursuing a master degree in Agricultural Education. Tyler will be a graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas.  Tyler was admitted into the double-degree Atlantis program that partners University of Arkansas with five EU universities and will require Tyler to complete some of his course work and master thesis research in Europe.

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