UGA researcher and Ph.D. student Micah Lewis was recently named the recipient of the 2011 George Washington Carver Award for his work with peanuts.
The National Peanut Board selected Lewis, a doctoral candidate in biological and agricultural engineering, for the honor in recognition of his research on peanuts as well as his service activities. As a researcher, Lewis studies ways to improve peanut drying by optimizing the design of a feedback controller. His civic contributions include participating in music ministry at his church as well as outreach activities for the less fortunate.
“Winning such an award named after a profound and selfless researcher, scientist and inventor is truly amazing, and I am honored to have even been considered among the other applicants,” Lewis said. “The magnitude of winning such an award is just beginning to sink in.”
Lewis, who is from Albany, was presented with the $1,000 prize and a plaque this summer at the annual American Peanut Research and Education Society conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Lewis is UGA’s fourth Carver Award winner. Previous UGA honorees were Dylan Wann in 2010, Jason Woodward in 2006 and Ekuwa Quist in 2005.
Headquartered in Atlanta, the Peanut Board also awards a matching amount to the winner’s university for peanut research.
