Eric Mussen, honey bee extension specialist with the Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis is the recipient of the American Association of Professional Apiculturists' Award for Apicultural Excellence for his bee industry leadership and apicultural research publications. Mussen received the coveted award, presented only four times over the last two decades, at the AAPA's January conference in Phoenix. Several weeks ago, he received the California State Beekeepers' Association's "Beekeeper of the Year" award for his regional, state and national contributions to the beekeeping industry. Mussen received his bachelor's degree in entomology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and his master's and doctorate degrees in entomology from the University of Minnesota.