Purpose

Pat and Tom Buchanan believe in University of Missouri Extension. They have a desire to support the organization and a goal to see regional extension specialists enhance their knowledge and skills through professional development. Because of these key reasons, they have financed an endowment to create opportunities for regional extension specialists to strengthen their abilities to provide the people of Missouri with quality extension programs.

"We felt that providing this endowment would give extension faculty members an additional opportunity to enhance their skills. It is our way of giving something back to the organization that played an important role in our lives." –Pat Buchanan

Pat Buchanan worked for MU Extension for 30 years, starting as a county home economist and later working as a regional textile and apparel management specialist. Pat also worked as the assistant to the director of cooperative extension and affirmative action coordinator. In 1994, she accepted a position as regional director with University of Illinois Cooperative Extension. She retired in 2002.

After 10 years as a contracting engineer in private industry, Tom Buchanan changed careers to become an extension business and industry specialist. He spent 24 years working for MU Extension and four years working with Illinois Cooperative Extension.

This award will be given each year to an MU Extension faculty member to support professional development opportunities. Because of Pat's and Tom's work with Human Environmental Sciences and Business Development, preference will be given to regional extension specialists in these areas.

Award

Recipients receive up to $1,000 (based on actual expenses) for an approved professional development activity.

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted prior to the professional development experience. Applications will be reviewed based on the professional development plan of the individual extension specialist. Applicants must:

• Currently be employed as a University of Missouri Extension regional faculty member.
• Have three (3) years of consecutive employment with the University of Missouri.
• Preference will be given to business and industry or human environmental sciences regional extension specialists.

Criteria

Nominees are evaluated on:

• Relationship of proposed professional development opportunity to the applicant's professional development plan.
• Individual initiative and creativity.
• Benefit of professional development opportunity to the individual, organization and clientele.
• Applicant has not received award before.

Nomination submission

To learn more about deadlines, submission instructions and other important information, please visit the awards home page:

nomination process

Award recipients