Victor, New York, USA
August 28, 2012

BioWorks is pleased to announce that Stacey Haack of Roseville, California has been selected as the winner of the American Floral Endowment: "BioWorks IPM/Sustainable Practices Scholarship". Students were evaluated on the basis of sound academic performance and a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Miss Haack will be a senior at the University of California, Davis, majoring in Plant Sciences with a double emphasis in Plant Breeding and Genetics, and Crop Production. She has a special interest in plant pathology, flower breeding systems, the seed industry, and aspires to become certified as a Pest Control Advisor (PCA).

Presently, Haack is working as an undergraduate researcher for Dr. Doug Gubler's laboratory in the Dept. of Plant Pathology at the University on a senior thesis project investigating the potential use of antifeedant and repellent sprays in preventing the landing and feeding of aphids on melon as a means to control mosaic viruses. This past year she also assisted at the Ralph M. Parsons Plant Transformation Facility at the University, on a special project regarding the transformation and regeneration of commercial rose cultivars to develop resistance to crown gall disease.

"I am inspired by the potential for breeding as a management method approach within an Integrated Pest Management system, enhancing the overall way that we grow our plants." commented Haack. "I love the interplay between different pest management system techniques, and the extreme variety in methods that can be used to address the same problem constantly encourages me to pursue this field."

Following graduation Haack plans to pursue a Masters degree in Plant Pathology, then a Ph.D. degree, working with a breeding program for both commercial and personal industry flower cultivar development, studying the development of resistance to flower pests and diseases that can cause economic losses. She hopes to then enter the pest management industry, working with sustainable agrochemical development research, consulting, or cooperative extension work within the flower industry.

Haack is a student member of both the California Seed Association, and California Association of Pest Control Advisors, and volunteers at the Department of Plant Sciences Outreach program, and University of California Cooperative Extension Field Days. Her academic honors include Dean's List and Top Freshmen Scholar (2009-2010).

AFE, founded in 1961, is the leading non-for-profit 501 (c) (3) funding source for floricultural/environmental horticulture research and educational programs in the United States. The Endowment is supported by more than 1,000 companies and individuals throughout the industry. For more information, please visit www.endowment.org.

BioWorks is an employee owned company that provides environmentally responsible, safe and cost-effective solutions to the horticulture industry. BioWorks is a founding member of the BioPesticide Industry Alliance and also a proud sponsor of the AFE scholarship program, funding the 'BioWorks IPM/Sustainable Practices Scholarship'.

Website: http://www.seedquest.com/id/b/BioWorks.htm

Published: August 28, 2012