The page is design to provide information and resources for ANSC Alumni.

Alumni News

Sarah Bedgar, animal science alumnus (B.S., 2001) was awarded a M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition from Animal and Range Sciences Department at North Dakota State University on December 18, 2004. She is now working as a Regional Extension Educator in Dairy for the University of Minnesota. Sarah earned her BS here in Animal Sciences with a Certificate in International Agriculture and Natural Resources in August 2001.

Pukazhenth Receives Ag Alumni Early Career Award
Dr. Budhan Pukazhenthi, animal science alumnus (Ph.D., 1996) was honored as the second recipient of the CANR Alumni Association’s Early Career Award at the CANR Ag Alumni celebration held April 22nd. Prior to his graduate doctoral work, he was a clinical veterinarian in India. Budhan is currently employed at the Smithsonian Institution, National Zoological Park, as a Cryobiologist and Reproductive Physiologist in the Department of Reproductive Sciences. His Ph.D. and post-doctoral research has focused on the use of reproductive technologies in cats for enhancing reproductive success. His approach has been novel and it has required a great deal of background work on the reproductive biology of domestic and endangered cats. The integration of molecular and cellular biology techniques has revealed fundamental biological characteristics that contribute to the greatly impaired reproductive function in endangered species of large cats.

Maxwell Drafted by Washington Nationals
Justin Maxwell, a recent animal sciences graduate, was the Washington National’s second pick and the 114th overall pick in the 2005 Major League Amateur Draft held on June 7th. For Maxwell who had one year of college eligibility left, this was the third time that he had been drafted. The Baltimore Orioles drafted Maxwell in the 43rd round out of high school but he chose to play for Maryland. Last year he was drafted in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers but again stayed at Maryland. Justin was preseason All-American in 2004 and 2005. This season before being injured, he was batting .455 with a .955 slugging percentage. An excellent student, Justin graduated Suma Cum Laude in Animal Science on May 22nd.

McDonald Starting Center for Terrapins
Ryan McDonald, a 5th year senior and May, 2005 Animal Sciences graduate has been the starting center for the Maryland Terrapins Football team this fall. A Maryland native and son of Edward and Cindy McDonald of Hagerstown, Ryan graduated from Williamsport High and spent his first season at the collegiate level at Concord (W. Va.) College. In 2002, Ryan walked on with the Terrapins and saw limited action during the past 3 seasons. Ryan is currently enrolled in the Environmental Sciences and Policy major in the college. We will enjoy watching Ryan on Saturdays this fall.