COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University holds a special place in the heart of the university’s newest student trustee Joe Shultz. For more than 10 years, Shultz, now a sophomore agribusiness and applied economics major, has had a close relationship with the university through his participation in 4-H.

“As a ten year 4-H member and now as a student at Ohio State I have had the opportunity to see first hand how our university can have an impact on people’s lives,” Shultz said. “It is my hope that as a student trustee I can make a small contribution to the continuation of Ohio State’s long-standing tradition of excellence.”

Gov. Bob Taft recently announced Shultz’s appointment to a two-year term on the board, ending May 13, 2003. He replaces Jaclyn Nowakowski, whose term expired May 13. Student members of university boards serve for two years and have no voting power or admittance to executive sessions, but they are encouraged to voice their opinions.

Shultz, 22, of DEGRAFF, is a member of Alpha Tau Zeta Fraternity and Ohio State’s Agricultural Education Society. He also is a past vice president of the National FFA Organization and is a member of Ohio Staters Inc.

Shultz said the year he took off from Ohio State to serve as vice president for the National FFA Organization helped prepare him for the responsibility of being a student trustee.

“This year of voluntary service gave me multiple leadership experiences from which I can draw upon for my work with the Board of Trustees,” he said. “During my year of service with the National FFA Organization, I traveled extensively around the country as a spokesperson for FFA and agricultural education. I presented multiple leadership speeches and workshops to high school FFA members. In addition, I served on the National FFA Board of Directors, where I worked with leaders in agriculture and Agricultural Education while guiding the organization.”

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(LO)