(Alexandria, Va. – June 22, 2009) — Morgan C. Van Epp, Ted G. Futris, John C. Van Epp, and Kelly Campbell, The University of Georgia (UGA), will receive the first Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal (FCSRJ) Outstanding Article award at the AAFCS 100th Annual Conference & Expo, Celebrating the Past, Sustaining the Future, in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Thursday, June 25th.

The award will be presented to Dr. Futris by Dr. Joan McFadden, FCSRJ editor, during the Association Recognition and Celebration event. The outstanding article is selected based upon following criteria: contributions to theory and practice in family and consumer sciences, originality of the article, competence in the execution of the research, and emerging impact of the article on the field of family and consumer sciences.

The UGA researchers will receive the award for their article, “The Impact of the PICK a Partner Relationship Education Program on Single Army Soldiers.” The program educates singles on how to develop healthy, romantic relationships, which can be beneficial to their subsequent dating and marital satisfaction, and for army soldiers, their satisfaction with military life. After the program was delivered to single army soldiers, the program participants demonstrated an increase in their understanding of the crucial areas to explore and discuss in a premarital relationship, gained a better understanding of how to pace their relationship, and exhibited more realistic attitudes and beliefs about marriage and mate selection.

About the FCSRJ
The Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal (FCSRJ) publishes original research and scholarly reviews in areas of family and consumer sciences and related disciplines concerned with the general well-being of families and individuals, including such areas as child and family studies; clothing and textiles; consumer sciences education; family economics and management; food and nutrition; housing, equipment, and design; and history or other research related to family and consumer sciences philosophical principles or theories.

About AAFCS
Founded in 1909 by Ellen Swallow Richards, the first woman graduate and professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), AAFCS is the only national not-for-profit organization that provides leadership and support to FCS students and professionals across multiple practice settings. FCS professionals help individuals, families, and communities make informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. AAFCS’ 6,000+ members are elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educators, researchers, and administrators; Cooperative Extension educators; and other professionals in business and industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government. These professionals provide research and applied knowledge in the areas of personal finance, child development and parenting, consumer education, housing and environment, apparel and textiles, and health and nutrition. With national headquarters based in Alexandria, Va., AAFCS has 52 affiliates located across the United States and Puerto Rico.

For more information, contact Gwynn Mason at 703-706-4600, ext. 4621, 703-859-8235, or gmason@aafcs.org.