Taxonomy of Flowering Plants - Botany 301
Golden Gourd Award
Fall Semester, 1999
    Of this semester's 8 'A' students, Geoffrey Denny, earned the highest point total:  879.  This remarkable 'top gun' performance (a full 22 points ahead of the pack) included only one incorrect response on the 225 questions of the four hour exams and the final. Thus, this year's coveted Golden Gourd Award for outstanding student performance in BOTN 301was was presented to Mr. Denny at the annual, gala Golden Gourd Awards ceremony on 17 December.

Geof Denny with his prize pepo

click to enlarge

    Mr. Denny, a Senior Horticulature major, plans to pursue graduate study in botany after his Spring, 2000 graduation and we wish him the best of luck.

    The gourd used for this prestigious award was provided by Lagenaria siceraria (Cucurbitaceae) plants grown by Dr. Wilson during the 1994 growing season. These particular plants represent a bottle gourd cultivar that is not available through commercial outlets.  Known as 'Apache Dipper', seed was originally obtained from a BOTN 620 student that acquired them through a 'seed saver' exchange.

    Following established tradition, this semester's award was enhanced via pericarp inscription/ornamentation by TAMU Herbarium Botanist, Monique Reed:
 


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