Eastern Agriculture Division Announces Outstanding Graduate
(Press Release 05-08-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Erica Gantz from Purcell was presented the Outstanding Agriculture Division Grauate Award by Agriculture Instructor Eddie Woods during commencement exercises Friday (May 8) on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College. One graduate from each of the six divisions of the college is selected each year for the honor.

During commencement, five other students were also named as Outstanding Divisional Graduates including: Julie Weeks from McAlester, Division of Language and Education; Cole Dalmont, McAlester, Division of Science and Mathematics; Andrew Enis, Wilburton, Division of Social Science and Music; Sarah Hayslip, Center, TX, Division of Business and Robin Burke, Talihina, Division of Nursing.

While at Eastern, Gantz maintained a gradepoint average of 3.8 and was named the Outstanding Animal Science Student for 2008-2009. She is a Presidential Scholar and has been listed on the President’s and Dean’s Honor Rolls. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa where she serves as secretary and has been named to Who’s Who Among American Junior Colleges. She has been a member of the Lady Mountaineer Softball team, has been an active member of the Aggie Club and is a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry where she serves as president.

She has been a member of the Soils Judging team where she was 1st High Individual at the Northwest Missouri Invitational Soils Contest, the 2nd High Individual at the Rienelander, Wisconsin Soils Contest and a member of the 3rd Place team at the National Competition held in Wooster, Ohio. She was also a member of the 4th Place Agriculture Quiz Bowl team at that same competition. Erica was the 5th High Individual Overall and 2nd High Individual in Crops Judging at Eastern’s Agricultural Intercollegiate Judging Contest.

Erica is the daughter of Brian and Debbie Gantz. She plans to transfer to Oklahoma State University to complete a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. She has been awarded an animal science scholarship from OSU and is the recipient of the OSU Distinguished Regents Transfer Scholarship.