American Water Resources Association (AWRA)

Ryan Pankau
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AWRA's 2008 Summer Specialty Conference Student Presenter Competition

Congratulations to the two winners of AWRA's 2008 Summer Specialty Conference on Riparian Ecosystems and Buffers Student Presenter Competition held during the conference in Virginia Beach, VA, June 30-July 2. Twenty-six different presentations were evaluated by the conference attendees throughout the 36 oral sessions and the poster session. Attendees used the following criteria to evaluate both oral and poster competitors:

Efficient use of allotted presentation time or poster space.
Quality of responses to audience questions in oral or at poster sessions.
Effective integration of audio-visual materials.
Perceived preparedness.
Logic and understandability of material (problem, methods, results, conclusions).
Adequate description of context for material - conveyed purpose of paper, identified relevant literatures, etc.
Overall style and presence; effective communicator - enthusiasm or persuasiveness
Suitability for AWRA/professional audience.
Significance and originality of the material presented.

Andrea Ludwig
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Everyone did a terrific job making the decision difficult. However the following two individuals were selected as the outstanding winners:

Ryan Pankau, Session 10, Assessment of Concentrated Flow Paths within Riparian Buffer Zones of Southern Illinois, (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; co-authors: Jon E. Schoonover, Karl W.J. Williard, Pamela J. Edwards)

Andrea Ludwig, Poster Session, Evaluating a Constructed Floodplain Wetland for Nutrient Removal Efficiences, (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; co-authors: W.C. Hession, Jim Lawrence)

A job well done to all those students who were in the competition and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We look forward to hearing more from everyone at future AWRA conferences!