MSU, Mississippi Academy of Sciences host summer symposium, USDA’s Tucker honored with Presidential Award

Pictured at the Summer Science & Engineering Symposium July 30 at MSU are Mississippi Academy of Sciences Divisional Advisor and University of Mississippi Medical Center Professor Ham Benghuzzi; MAS President and Alcorn State University Dean of Arts and Sciences Babu Patlolla; USDA-ARS Southeast Area Director Archie Tucker who received the MAS Presidential Award; MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean, MAFES Director and MAS Symposium Co-Chair Scott Willard; and MSU Professor and MAS Symposium Chair K. Raja Reddy. (Photo by Allison Matthews)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—��Ƶ hosted more than 90 scholars from around the state for today’s [July 30] Summer Science & Engineering Symposium in conjunction with the Mississippi Academy of Sciences.

The day’s primary focus was on a variety of student and faculty research presentations shared through oral and poster sessions.

MAS presented a prestigious Presidential Award to Archie Tucker, a longtime USDA Agricultural Research Service area director, whose office is located at MSU’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. After starting work with the USDA-ARS as a 16-year-old high school student, Tucker has amassed over 49 years of service. He is being honored for outstanding contributions to the success of his organization, where he oversees an annual budget exceeding $350 million.

Tucker encouraged students in attendance to be aware of the “tremendous opportunities in science.”

“If you can control your attitude and manage your effort, the sky’s the limit,” he said, noting that there are “tremendous opportunities within the USDA and many other agencies.”

“Don’t let anybody or anything stop you from achieving your goals,” Tucker said.

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