Agricultural Sciences

Karl Girton Receives Penn State Alumni Service Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Karl Girton, consultant to and former president of Girton Systems Inc. of Millville, Pa., received the 1998 Philip Philip Mitchell Alumni Service Award from the Penn State Alumni Association. The honor was presented at the Alumni Council Recognition Dinner April 24 at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State's University Park campus.

The award was established by Elizabeth and Philip P. Mitchell in 1981 to honor alumni who have made "significant contributions to the enhancement, growth, development or improvement of Penn State."

"Karl Girton has demonstrated exceptional loyalty and dedication to our college and to Penn State," says Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. His ongoing commitment of time, energy and intellect have contributed significantly to the enhancement and growth of the university and to our ability to meet our land-grant mission."

"Karl has worked tirelessly and voluntarily in support of the University on a variety of programs," says Lamartine Hood, professor of food science and dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences from 1986 to 1996. "In working with Karl on a variety of projects over the years, I gained enormous respect for his coherent vision and leadership qualities."

Girton spearheaded a Department of Food Science initiative to renovate and modernize 65-year-old Borland Laboratory, which has housed the department since 1976. Girton led an effort among the food science department and food industry representatives to make both legislators and the food processing industry aware of the need for a renovated facility. As a result, a Borland renovation is scheduled for construction, funded by $15 million in state funds and $3 million from private donors.

Girton also designed and provided at cost, new processing equipment for the milk and ice cream manufacturing facilities in the University Creamery. The equipment upgrade turned the Creamery into a state-of-the-art facility that in turn improved the teaching and outreach efforts within the Department of Food Science.

Girton played a key role on the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society's board of directors, helping to address challenges facing the college in the 1980s and 1990s. He also helped develop consensus among alumni to change the name of the college from the College of Agriculture to the College of Agricultural Sciences. In 1991, the Penn State Alumni Association named him an Alumni Fellow.

Girton serves on the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching, a group that works in support of land-grant colleges of agriculture in Washington, D.C. Each state has two representatives on the council.

Girton received his master's degree in food science from Penn State in 1964. He earned a B.S. in business and accounting from The Citadel in 1962.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and chair of the board's committee on special education. He is a member and past president of the Food Industries Supply Association and is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Girton served on the board of the Cornell University Institute of Food Science and is a past president of Pennsylvania Food Industry Council. He also served on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Economic Partnership.

On the local level, Girton is a member of the Millville United Methodist Church, a member of the Camp Victory board of directors, and is past president and director of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Jillian Stevenson at 814-863-2831.

Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax

Last Updated March 19, 2009