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Students in the Department of Entomology were on hand to help the youth that are involved in statewide FFA and 4-H clubs to better identify insects and teach entomology during the annual Insect Judging Clinic held in the Heep Center on Saturday, March 30.

The clinic helps to prepare youth participating in the upcoming FFA and 4-H contests. The half-day-long clinic helps them with identifying, collecting, and preparing insects, and learning insect biology and ecology.

After the opening session led by Dr. Pete Teel, participants were directed to four concurrent sessions that included topics such as correctly identifying insects, properly collecting and preserving insects for display, and a workshop for adult leaders and teachers on the different resources available for building successful teams.

Participants also had the chance to fine tune their insect identification skills at five different insect identification stations and a room where students received hands-on experience working with pinning and mounting tools.

The stations included the most common insects in Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera, as well as the most commonly missed insect orders.

Several undergraduate and graduate students also served as volunteers to help participants with any questions they had on insects and the contest in general.

Participants could also practice their skills with practice sessions in three rooms set up on the second and fourth floors.

The day ended with an overview of the contest and a panel of students where participants could ask questions about entomology, careers, and what college is about.

This year was senior Entomology major Sherrill Richarz’ first time to volunteer for the clinic and she said she loved working in the Hymenoptera room helping students with questions about the specimens.

“I really enjoyed volunteering and it makes me feel great that I’m helping the kids learn about entomology,” she said. “It’s a great experience.”

Senior Franchesca Rodriguez enjoyed working in the Hymenoptera room and seeing how interested the participants were when they looked at the insects.

“This really is a great seeing the kids and their reactions when they see the specimens,” Rodriguez said.

Grand Saline FFA leader Bryce Nations said the clinic was a great idea and also gives students a glimpse of entomology, as well as a way for them to see what college life is about.

“It’s great for the kids to see the clinic and learn from the people that are doing these contests and I think it’s a great recruiting tool for the university too,” he said.

The Department of Entomology’s Forensic and Investigative Program has a reason to celebrate this year as it was ranked in the top 25 Best Bachelors in Forensic Science Degree Programs in the country.

The Bachelor’s Degree Center, an independent resource website, ranked the program #1 out of 25 Best Bachelors in Forensic Science Programs during its latest release in late March. The rankings were based on several factors including cost, reputation, salaries of former students’ jobs, graduation and job placement rates.

The program started in 2007 after seeing growing popularity of the Department’s Science of Forensic Entomology (ENTO 431) and Applied Forensic Entomology (ENTO 432) courses that were taught by the late Dr. Jimmy Olson.

The program received its accreditation by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission, or FEPAC, in 2012 and has grown from two courses to several, including a major offering courses in forensic soils, impression evidence, and crime scene investigations.

“I am flattered by the recognition of our program as the top program in the nation,” program director Dr. Jeff Tomberlin said. “I believe such a recognition is a testament to the commitment the faculty, college, and university has for its students as a well as a reflection of the type of student matriculating through our program.”

Instructional Assistant Professor Dr. Adrienne Brundage has been teaching courses in the program since its inception 12 years ago and was impressed by the quality of service that the faculty and advising staff have done to keep it running.

“I’ve been lucky enough to watch this group of passionate, talented, and dedicated professionals work overtime and on weekends to make it happen,” Brundage said.  “Everyone involved, from Dr. Tomberlin as the director, to Ms. Pool and Mrs. Hapes as advisors, to every single professor and guest lecturer is completely focused on the success of our students. It’s that dedication and focus that really helped the program thrive.”

Brundage noted that the students have seen the results of the high quality teaching the program has worked hard to bring.

“I think the students see the amount of work everyone puts into the program and the students work hard in return,” Brundage said.  “With a team like this it’s almost impossible to not achieve great things!”

“We train our students with the goal of producing problem solvers,” said Dr. Aaron Tarone, a professor that teaches a forensics class.   “This ranking, which was determined in part by post-graduation placement rates and salaries, suggests that we are accomplishing our goal.”

Senior Forensics major Nicholas Richter said the program has been very helpful.

“The Forensic and Investigative Sciences program at Texas A&M has really pushed me to grow, not only in my understanding of technical skills related to the field of Forensic Science, but more importantly in my thinking and reasoning as a scientist,” said senior Forensics student Nicholas Richter. “The professors truly strive to encourage critical and original thought, and I think this ranking speaks to all the efforts of the department to put the students in a position to be successful and to do things the right way.”

Senior Fatimah Bouderdaben loved the fact the program is helping her to prepare for a career after graduation.

“When I saw that A&M was ranked #1, I was not surprised. Looking at the criteria that they looked at, one of the major characteristics that were put into this ranking was the success of the graduates,” said Fatimah Bouderdaben, senior Forensics major. “I know that this program prepares us to do well after college. Especially in your senior year. We are pushed to be independent and our professional skills are honed. I am proud to graduate from this program.”

Former student Charity Owings graduated with a double major in FIVS and ENTO from Texas A&M in 2010. She is currently finishing her PhD at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) studying the mediators of blow fly population genetics.

“I am not surprised this program has been ranked #1 in the country – it is truly the best forensics bachelors program out there, boasting both top-tier instructors and intensive coursework geared towards preparing students for real-world challenges,” Owings said.

Former student Casey Flint graduated in 2017 with the pre-law emphasis and is a Ph.D. student in Entomology at Texas A&M.

“I’m honored to have graduated from this program, and come back to help teach the current students. This program prepares graduates to go into extremely diverse fields and be successful wherever they go,” she said.  “We have had students enroll in straight PhD programs in toxicology and entomology, go to medical school, become officers in the Army and Marine Corps, work for city, state, and federal investigative agencies, and much more. I’m excited to see this program grow and produce more forensic science professionals.”

“Texas A&M’s forensic science program has been preeminent for years; its recent recognition comes not as a surprise but as a welcome confirmation.  I felt—and still feel—that my journey through the Forensic and Investigative Sciences (‘FIVS’) degree was tailor-made to suit my needs and goals; the faculty promote flexibility and individuality without sacrificing excellence,” Roblyer said.  “Because the degree is tucked into a small department at a massive institution, students receive the benefit of vast resources in an environment where everyone knows their names.”

Roblyer added that the high-quality curriculum and faculty and staff, as well as having numerous career opportunities are what helped the program become what it is now.

“I think the outstanding curricula, well-reasoned course planning, and endless opportunities are the bones of the program; continuous encouragement and thoughtful mentorship are the heart and mind,” she said.  “It is, of course, the natural conclusion that a program so special should be named the best in the country.  Congratulations to all those who make it what it is.”