Ed DePeters, a professor dedicated to educating the next generation of dairy professionals, has received the UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, according to a news release distributed by UC Davis News Service. The honor comes with a $40,000 teaching prize, funded by the UC Davis Foundation.

DePeters’ research, which has been widely applied in the dairy industry, has focused on how the composition of milk, particularly the fatty-acid content, can be modified by changes in the cow’s diet, and how agricultural by-products such as almond hulls and cottonseed can be converted into nutritious feeds. His research has resulted in more than 120 scientific publications.

Reviews of DePeter's teaching by students are a testament to his effectiveness. Comments include:

• Very enthusiastic
• Really knows his material
• Very approachable
• Incredible teacher
• Funny and gifted
• The most motivated and dedicated teacher
• A great guy and awesome prof
• I love this class; it’s top priority

The release said DePeters knows how to make his college classes fun. He requires students to wear “I Love Milk” buttons during their spring quarter dairy class, passes out specially made “I Want to Be a Nutritionist” pens as rewards, and has students throw darts at a dartboard to select the animal species they will study in their animal feeds and nutrition class. On Fridays during his spring quarter dairy production course, he vies with students to see who has the best cow-themed T-shirt.