Arline Inducted In Ag Hall Of Fame; Bryant Named Young Ag Alumni At Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 7, 2002 -- Marcella Arline, vice president for quality and regulatory compliance with Hershey Foods Corp., will be inducted into Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame Oct. 19.

The induction is part of the college's homecoming activities. Also a part of the homecoming activities is the awarding of the college's Young Agricultural Alumni Citation Award to Bradley W. Bryant, who completed his studies for a doctorate in agricultural education last year.

Arline, a resident of Hershey, Pa., was named to the hall of fame for her contributions to the industry of agriculture and to the university. Andy Swiger, dean of agriculture for Virginia Tech, will recognize Arline's contributions during the induction ceremony.

In 1974, Arline was the first student to receive a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech's newly formed Department of Food Science and Technology. She worked for several food processing companies in Virginia before joining Hershey Foods in 1981. She is a professional member of the Institute of Food Technologists, and she serves on several scientific and technical committees for the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Food Processors Association.

Arline also organized an internship program for food science students at Hershey, and she has mentored Virginia Tech students. In addition, she has served on the college's leadership council, has been active in the university's alumni association, and she was instrumental in the establishment of an alumni organization for graduates of the college.

Bryant is to be presented with the Young Alunni Award by Jamie Whittaker, outgoing president of the Virginia Tech Agriculture Alumni Organization.

Bryant, who is a past president of the Agriculture Alumni Organization, was a graduate research and teaching assistant working in the college while pursuing graduate studies from 2000 to 2001. He served the college and the Agricultural Alumni Organization as assistant coordinator of the college's alumni program.

Bryant earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 1989. He worked for 10 years as an agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser in South Hill, during which time he earned a master's degree.

He is currently employed as an agricultural education teacher in Montgomery County.