By:
Tom Nordlie (352) 392-0400Source:
E.T. York etyork@ufl.edu, 352-392-0400
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — E.T. York has devoted most of his life to serving Florida’s university students, and this week the state’s leading college-student organization thanked him on behalf of several generations who benefited from York’s efforts.
The Florida Student Association presented the educator with its Ken Pruitt Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony Wednesday at the Governor’s Club in Tallahassee.
“I feel very honored to be recognized by the group and it’s particularly meaningful to come from the students,” York said. “I’m very familiar with the student association – they’ve done a good job of representing the students’ interest in Tallahassee. I’ve worked with them in the past and appreciate what they do.”
York, a major figure in Florida agriculture throughout the latter half of the 20th century, is a former chancellor of the State University System, UF interim president and UF vice president for agricultural affairs.
The award was presented to York by UF Student Body President John Boyles. Given annually, it recognizes one leader for promoting higher education on behalf of students. It is named after state Sen. Ken Pruitt (R-District 28), a champion of student issues.
E.T.York has devoted most of his life to serving Florida’s university students, and this week the state’s leading college-student organization thanked him on behalf of several generations who benefited from York’s efforts.
It was one of three awards presented this year by the association, the advocacy group that represents the students of Florida’s State University System. Besides York, this year’s honorees were state Sen. Alfred “Al” Lawson Jr. (D-District 6) and state Rep. Anthony Trey Traviesa (R-District 56), who each received the Florida Student Association Distinguished Service Award.
Student officers from Florida’s universities attended the ceremony, along with representatives of the Florida cabinet, state legislature and Florida Board of Education. York is responsible for organizing UF’s agriculture program in its current form, the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, in the mid-1960s. He also led the effort to establish the state’s first veterinary college.
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