College of Agriculture and Life Sciences hosts 67th annual Convocation

Celebration honors excellent students and exemplary educators

The Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presented awards recognizing student and faculty excellence April 15. The College’s 67th annual Convocation was held at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, D.V.M. ’56 Equine Complex.

The College presented Senior Merit Awards, the highest awards it gives to students.

In addition, student nominees for three university-level awards — the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award, The Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award and the Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service Award — were acknowledged. Additionally, an outstanding freshman, sophomore and junior received an Alpha Zeta Award.

The Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award and the Honor Professor Award were presented to two faculty members.

Finally, officers of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council and the College’s Student Ambassadors were recognized.

2023 Senior Merit Awards

The Senior Merit Award is the highest award given to undergraduates by the College. Nominations are received from each major, and final selections are made by the college scholarship committee. Selection criteria include scholarship, community involvement, professional and civic activities, internships and employment, awards, honors and accomplishments in undergraduate research.

The following students from across the College are the 2023 Senior Merit honorees:

• Kasey Andrews, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Gianna Berger-Baucage, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Allison Brenner, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• Caelyn Caivano, Department of Nutrition.
• Maggie Chaffin, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Shawnee Chavez, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Alexandria Cozzitorto, Department of Animal Science.
• Isabella DeTone, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Jack Detten, Department of Animal Science.
• Cassidy Finch, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
• Jillian Gilchrist, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Mamie Hertel, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Grace Hoegemeyer, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Osasere Igbinoba, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• James Johnston, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Caroline Jurecka, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
• Dustie Koudela, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Kaylee Kramer, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Emily Leeke, Department of Entomology.
• Leah Leonard, Department of Poultry Science.
• Daniela Lopez, Department of Nutrition.
• Andrew Maust, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• Madison McGaugh, Department of Nutrition.
• Marie Muffoletto, Department of Poultry Science.
• Ryder Nielson, Department of Poultry Science.
• Carly Oldag, Department of Poultry Science.
• Amanda Pastrano, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Samantha Pote, Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
• Daniel Propes, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Emily Read, Department of Animal Science.
• Hannah Roe, Department of Entomology.
• Katelyn Sanchez, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• McKenna Sanchez, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Ryan Schronk, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Dylan Sione, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Stone Stegall, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Kenadee Stewart, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Danaleigh Stiles, Department of Animal Science.
• Abigail Tack, Department of Animal Science.
• Alyssa Teixeira, Department of Entomology.
• Lauren Thomas, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Logan Thomas, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Kolton Witherspoon, Department of Poultry Science.
• Meredith Wood, Department of Nutrition.
• Sharmila Young, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.

Nominations for university-level awards

Among the most prestigious undergraduate awards at Texas A&M are the Brown-Rudder, Gates-Muller and the E. King Gill Selfless Service awards. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences nominates two students for Brown-Rudder, one student for Gates-Muller and one student for the E. King Gill awards.

Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award nominees this year are Emily Leeke, Department of Entomology, and Emily Read, Department of Animal Science.

One student garnered nominations for both the E. King Gill ’80 Selfless Service Award and the Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award: Carly Oldag, Department of Poultry Science.

Outstanding Student Awards

The College also celebrated winners of awards that were historically given by Alpha Zeta, an honorary professional society for students and industry professionals in agricultural and natural resources fields. Unfortunately, the Texas A&M student chapter of Alpha Zeta lost its faculty sponsor this year, so the awards will now be given from the College level.

• Outstanding Freshman: Henri Bariselle, Department of Poultry Science.
• Outstanding Sophomore: Grace Parks, Department of Animal Science.
• Outstanding Junior: Zane Wanjura, Department of Animal Science.

Teaching Excellence

Since the 1950s, the College has celebrated the accomplishments and excellence of faculty with the Honor Professor Award and the Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award.

• Honor Professor Award: Jessica Light, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award: Jennifer Wyle, lecturer and meat judging coordinator, Department of Animal Science.

2023 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassadors

Each year, the College selects students for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassadors program. These students exemplify leadership, academic achievement and a commitment to service, and they represent the College at numerous events to meet with and answer questions from prospective students.

Robert Sturdivant, program coordinator for student development, thanked and introduced students who served as Ambassadors during this past academic year:

• Emma Anton, Department of Animal Science.
• Mafer Arcos, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Chris Barron, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• AJ Brewton, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Caitlin Castro, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
• Coltyn Cook, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Rachael Detten, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Clayton Elbel, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Olivia Henry, Department of Entomology.
• Osa Igbinoba, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• Gabby Louis, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
• Caitlyn Muckensturm, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Kyle Murphy, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Abigail Tack, Department of Animal Science.
• Olivia Vogt, Department of Animal Science.
• Presley Wirebaugh, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.

2022-2023 Student Council officers

The convocation was led by the 2022-2023 officers of the College’s Student Council:

• Wyatt Harlan ’23, president. Major: agricultural economics.
• Marie Yanchak ’24, vice president of leadership. Major: agricultural leadership and development.
• Miles Huffhines ’24, vice president of service. Major: agricultural economics.
• Dawson Killen ’23, vice president of programs. Major: agricultural economics.
• Alex Cozzitorto ’23, vice president of public relations. Major: animal science.
• Zane Wanjura ’24, vice president of finance. Major: animal science.

Event photos

Photos from the event are available at tx.ag/2023AGLSConvocationPhotos.

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