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Nisus Awards Annual $2,500 Urban Pest Control Scholarship

PCT Online
Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Margaret Schwinghammer, Ph.D. candidate in entomology at Purdue University

ROCKVILLE, Tenn. - Nisus Corporation, in conjunction with the Professional Women in Pest Management, is pleased to award their Annual $2500 Scholarship to Margaret Schwinghammer, a Ph.D. candidate in entomology at Purdue University.

The scholarship may be used to defer a portion of the costs of graduate school. It also includes $500 towards travel expenses to attend the National Pest Management Association's PestWorld 2006 this October. Ms. Schwinghammer will receive her award at the Professional Women In Pest Management reception on Thursday, October 26, 2006.

The annual award is given to a female graduate student currently enrolled in a Master's or Ph.D. program. She must be interested in a career in the urban pest control industry and have experience or interest in urban entomology or urban pest control. Candidates also answered essay questions and submitted transcripts, curriculum vitae and letters of recommendation.

Ms. Schwinghammer has an impressive background in urban entomology, including extensive research into subterranean termite movement and foraging. Her current work examines genetically based termite behavior and its interaction with environmental influences, among others. The research could have an impact in a new line of termite control chemicals.

In his letter supporting Ms. Schwinghammer's application, Dr. Gary W. Bennett, entomology professor and director of Purdue's Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management, commented, "...this kind of research in biotechnology is essential to the future of our industry and our science of urban pest management."

In particular, Ms. Schwinghammer feels that her involvement with Purdue's Pest Management Correspondence Courses (taken by more than 2000 Pest Management Professionals each year) has given her a solid connection with PMPs and the practical end of urban pest control. Her work on the program required Ms. Schwinghammer to keep abreast of the latest application methods and standards. As a result, she worked closely with many PMPs in the field.

"As the ultimate use and efficacy of a product comes down to the applicator," Ms. Schwinghammer observed in one essay, "it is important to have access to information from these individuals who play such a critical role in the grand scheme."