College of Agriculture & Natural ResourcesAlumni & Friends

Each year the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources recognizes outstanding contributions to Michigan State University (MSU), the College of Agriculture (CANR), the community, state and nation with the CANR Alumni Association Awards, CANR Distinguished Service Award.

These awards are presented during ANR Week which is scheduled for February 28-March 7, 2020.  

 CANR Alumni Association Awards

• Alumni Service Award
• Distinguished Faculty Award
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
• Honorary Alumnus Award
• Outstanding Alumnus Award
• Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

CANR Distinguished Service Award

Each year, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources presents Distinguished Service Awards to those individuals or partners who have made outstanding contributions to Michigan’s agriculture and natural resources industries and who possess high standards of integrity and character to positively reflect and enhance the prestige of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. These individuals demonstrate a commitment to Michigan State University and the CANR by continuing outstanding volunteerism and leadership on behalf of or in conjunction with the university on a local, state, national or international level. As many as three of these prestigious awards are presented during ANR Week.

Farm Lane Society

The Farm Lane Society honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources as a CANR Alumni Association Board member or have brought honor to the college as a notable recipient of a CANR Alumni Association Award or the CANR Distinguished Service Award and to foster their continuing involvement in the College and Alumni Association. 

Nominations

Award candidates may be nominated by departments, administrators, CANR alumni board members, faculty, alumni and industry stakeholders. Nominations are due October 15, 2019. 

Submit an online nomination

Download a nomination form to submit

Selection criteria

• The awards committee is looking for recipients based on their commitment to the Land Grant mission of teaching, research and outreach activities.
• Professional, community and MSU service will also be considered in the selection process for all awards.
• Nominees for each of the five CANRAA awards will be considered for three subsequent years. If not selected in the first year, those submitting a nomination will be given the opportunity to update the nomination form before consideration the second and third year. If a nominee is not selected within the three years, they will be removed from the nomination pool, but could be nominated again at a later time.
• Current faculty members should be nominated for the Distinguished Faculty Award. It is preferred that faculty not be nominated for the other awards. A nomination of a faculty member will not be refused, however, preference will be made to non‑faculty members for those two awards.
• Alumni association board members cannot be nominated while they are serving on the board.
• Letters of recommendation are important in the selection process. We should suggest that nominators submit a maximum of four letters of support for the nomination. These letters should come from people who can support the nominees activities in the various areas including MSU service, their career and their community service.
• The awards selection committee structure will consist of CANRAA board members and one ANR faculty or staff representative appointed by the Dean’s office.