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CORVALLIS, Ore. - The nation's oldest higher education association has honored three faculty members at Oregon State University for their professional achievements.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) gave Mike Bondi its Western Region Award for Excellence in Extension. Bondi is the chairman of the OSU Extension Service in Clackamas County and is an Extension agent in forestry and Christmas trees. In his 32 years with OSU, Bondi has spearheaded several successful outreach efforts.

Bondi's projects include Tree School in Clackamas County, which brings together about 600 family forest owners and Christmas tree growers for one day of classes each year. The Tree School concept has been used as a model for similar programs around Oregon and the nation. Bondi also helped create Forests Forever Inc., a nonprofit that owns and manages the Hopkins Demonstration Forest near Oregon City. The group, which serves several thousand visitors each year, also offers educational programs and volunteer opportunities in the forest.

In 2008, Bondi was instrumental in the passage of a ballot measure that created a property tax in Clackamas County to support Extension's work there.

Lyla Houglum was recognized for her role as co-chair of Managing in Tough Times, a national Extension initiative formed in response to the economic downturn. Houglum helped assemble and manage a team that created an online directory allowing Extension educators across the country to pool resources and share educational materials to assist people struggling with financial difficulties. Houglum is the director of special initiatives with OSU Extension and the executive director of the Western Extension Directors Association.

Cary J. Green, the assistant dean and head adviser in the College of Agricultural Sciences, was recognized for completing a selective two-year leadership development program offered by the Food Systems Leadership Institute.

The APLU handed out the awards at its annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, in November. The APLU is a nonprofit association of 218 public research universities, land-grant institutions and state university systems.