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Published on 08/18/11

UGA researcher wins George Washington Carver Award

University of Georgia researcher and Ph.D. student Micah Lewis was recently named the recipient of the 2011 George Washington Carver Award.

The National Peanut Board selected Lewis, an engineering doctoral candidate in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, based on his research on peanuts and his service activities. Lewis studies ways to improve peanut drying by optimizing the design of a feedback controller. His civic contributions include participating in music ministry at his church and outreach activities for the less fortunate.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to have received this award,” Lewis said. “Winning such an award named after a profound and selfless researcher, scientist and inventor is truly amazing, and I am honored to have even been considered among the other applicants. The magnitude of winning such an award is just beginning to sink in.”

A native of Albany, Lewis received the $1,000 prize and a plaque at the American Peanut Research and Education Society conference held July 13 in San Antonio, Texas.

“The National Peanut Board is honored to give the tenth annual Carver Award to a brilliant student such as Micah,” said Jeffrey Pope, Virginia board member and chairman of the NPB research committee. “This kind of agricultural engineering research helps ensure the profitability of peanuts for growers and the long-term sustainability of peanut production for posterity. And, as a farmer, I’d like to express my personal gratitude to Micah for his research and his commitment to the community.”

Headquartered in Atlanta, the peanut board also awards a matching amount to the winner’s university. Previous UGA honorees were Dylan Wann (2010), Jason Woodward (2006) and Ekuwa Quist (2005).

Named for the nation’s foremost peanut researcher, the George Washington Carver Award honors its namesake by annually recognizing a researcher with strong community service ties.

Experts/Sources:
Micah Lewis
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