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Excellence in Education Award Recipient08-10-18 | Education

Excellence in Education Award Recipient
Presented by the Irrigation Foundation

The Irrigation Foundation recently announced Franklin Gaudi, EdD, CID, CIC, CAIS, CCA, of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, as the recipient of this year's Irrigation Foundation Excellence in Education Award.

Gaudi is a Cal Poly alumnus and a project manager for the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC). He teaches courses in irrigation water management, on-farm irrigation systems, landscape irrigation, AutoCAD and careers in agriculture. He also teaches many of the irrigation short courses offered in the summer through the ITRC.

The Irrigation Foundation Excellence in Education Award recognizes a person who is actively teaching or has formerly taught irrigation, water management and/or water conservation in affiliation with a two- or four-year institution. This person helps supply the irrigation industry with educated professionals who provide efficient irrigation solutions that protect water and the environment.

"Franklin has been a steadfast champion for both the Irrigation Foundation and for irrigation education," IA CEO and Irrigation Foundation Executive Director Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE, said. "I congratulate him on this well-deserved honor and encourage others to follow his lead in promoting efficient irrigation through education."

Gaudi's current areas of interest are utilizing domestic wastewater for agricultural forage crop production, drip system evaluations, and landscape irrigation design and auditing. Through research and projects at the ITRC, he is able to bring experience with real-world problems and solutions into the classroom. Gaudi also serves as a member of the Irrigation Association Certification Board where he assists with maintaining existing certifications and developing new certifications.

"I'm honored to receive the Excellence in Education Award from the Irrigation Foundation," Gaudi said. "Teaching the next generation about irrigation has been very rewarding in and of itself. To be recognized by the Foundation and the IA for doing work that typically goes unnoticed is a great compliment."

More information about this award and additional past recipients can be found HERE.