Refined company: AgCenter researcher becomes third woman to win sugar industry award

Gillian Eggleston, director of the LSU AgCenter’s Audubon Sugar Institute, has become only the third woman to win the prestigious Crystal Award for Achievement in Sugar Technology since its inception in 1961.

 The Crystal Award was developed by Sugar Industry Technologists, Inc. to acknowledge those who have made notable contributions to the technological advancement of the sugar refining industry. The purpose of the organization is to “improve the operations of the sugar refining industry by presenting, discussing and sharing scientific information pertaining to the management and technical aspects of sugar refining and encouraging original research in the field.”

 Eggelston was named director of the Audubon Sugar Institute in 2018. She previously was a research chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans.

By V. Todd Miller, LSU AgCenter

During her career, Eggleston has had numerous accomplishments, with her research and technology transfer efforts having had major commercial and scientific impact globally in the sugar industry.

 Sugar Industry Technologists, Inc. president Janet Harriman said Eggleston was the perfect candidate for the award and her win was well-deserved.

 “Gillian is widely regarded and extremely respected, not only for her work, but also as a mentor and leader for the industry and for women,” she said. “As the second female president of the organization, it was an honor for me to be able to hand the award to someone of her stature.”

For her part, Eggleston hopes her success will inspire other women in the industry.

“This is a meaningful award in the international sugar industry community, and I feel it honors my work over the past 30 years,” she said. “Additionally, being only the third woman to have won this award in the last 60-plus years means a great deal to me.”