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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Awards" style='position:absolute;margin-left:-3.65pt;margin-top:0;width:88.4pt;height:81.35pt;z-index:251659264;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=118 height=109 style='width:1.2291in;height:1.1319in' src="cid:image002.png@01DC06D9.DE204940" align=left hspace=12 alt=Awards v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><a name="_Hlk198803898"></a><a name="_Hlk198547159"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear Colleagues,</span></b></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><a name="_Hlk198547143"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>There are just a few weeks remaining to submit nominations for the <b>2025 </b></span></a></span><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>. We encourage you to help recognize the important work being done, by individuals and teams alike, to reduce the impact of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>These awards celebrate scientific innovation, collaborative achievements, advocacy, and lifelong dedication to advancing the mission of USWBSI by the FHB community. <b>If you know someone whose contributions deserve to be honored make sure to submit a nomination by August 27.</b> We welcome nominations from across the research and stakeholder community, including academia, industry, and governmental/non-governmental organizations. Self-nominations are also welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Full award descriptions, eligibility criteria, and nomination form access are available on the </span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards webpage</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#4EA72E'>Award Categories<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Outstanding New Investigator Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Recognizes researchers with up to 7 years as a USWBSI funded PI whose innovative work shows high potential for impact.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Collaborative Achievement Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Honors multi-institutional or multi-disciplinary teams whose collaboration has led to meaningful progress in addressing FHB.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Innovative Impact Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Celebrates individuals or groups whose outreach or advocacy has greatly enhanced FHB awareness and response.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Lifetime Achievement Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Reserved for those with 20+ years of impactful FHB experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#4EA72E'>Nomination Deadline<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>August 27, 2025</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please don’t miss this opportunity to elevate the work of your colleagues and collaborators. <b><a href="https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b9DSo74PBijMXCS"><span style='color:#467886'>Make plans to submit a nomination!</span></a> </b>If you have any questions, reach out to the USWBSI NFO at <a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org"><span style='color:#467886'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></a> for assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'>______</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><a name="m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#0E2841'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>495 Borlaug Hall | 1991 Upper Buford Circle | St. Paul, MN 55108</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></a> | 517.290.5023 | </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#414141'><a href="https://scabusa.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://scabusa.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Twitter </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="https://twitter.com/USWBSI"><span style='color:#156082'>@USWBSI</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> | Linkedin </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/uswbsi"><span style='color:#156082'>#uswbsi</span></a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>