A committee of viticulture researchers evaluated the student oral and poster presentations and awarded prizes for the top three presentations in each category. All six winners received free registration for the 2009 National Viticulture Research Conference and cash prizes as follows:
1st Place: $250
2nd Place: $150
3rd Place: $50
UC Cooperative Extension Specialists Larry Bettiga and Rhonda Smith announced the winners of the student competition at the conference dinner program, and are shown in the photos as they presented the awards. The Organizing Committee enjoys this opportunity to recognize excellence in student scholarship and would like to thank Paraiso Vineyards for their donation of the cash awards.
2008 Student Winners
Carrie McDonnell, 1st Place Student Oral Presentations
"The Effect of Crop Load and Extended Ripening on Vine Balance and Wine Quality in Cabernet Sauvignon"
Joshua Rubin, 2nd Place Student Oral Presentations
"Genetic and Phenotypic Resistance to Pierce’s Disease in Vitis arizonica/candicans Selections from Monterrey, Mexico"
Elvis Takow, 3rd Place Student Oral Presentations
"Utility of the American Viticultural Areas of Texas Information System (AVATXIS) as a Tool in the Characterization of Texas Wine Regions"
Poster Presentations
Tanya Voegel, 1st Place Student Poster Presentations
"A Novel Approach for GeneratingXylella fastidiosa Resistant Grapevines"
Christine Stockert, 2nd Place Student Poster Presentations
"The Physiological Basis Of Rootstock Control Of Grape Fruit Nitrogen Composition"
Judy Yang, 3rd Place Student Poster Presentations
"Use of Genetic Markers to Assess Pedigrees of Grape Cultivars and Breeding Program Selections"