Freshman Named National Agriscience Student of the Year

VALDOSTA - Valdosta State University freshman Nicholas Worley was named National Agriscience Student of the Year at the 81st annual National Future Farmers of America Convention.

The Lowndes FFA member stood before more than 50,000 people as he accepted a $3,000 scholarship from the National FFA Foundation, surpassing seven other finalists for the award. To qualify, finalists presented the findings of their own agriscience-related research projects and were evaluated on their general academic achievements and their involvement in school and community activities.

Advised by James Corbett and sponsored by the Langdale Company, Worley was honored for his research on alternative methods of ethanol production. He used the scientific method to determine that substantial amounts of ethanol could be produced from the biomass of Georgia's forests, specifically clean wood chips and unmerchantable forest biomass.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 507,763 student members - all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture - as part of 7,439 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.