College of Agriculture and Life Sciences hosts 68th annual Convocation

Students and faculty were honored at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 68th annual Convocation on April 13 at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, D.V.M. ’56 Equine Complex.

Students across the College were recognized with Senior Merit Awards, three university-level student award nominations and Outstanding Student Awards for a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Two faculty members received the Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award and the Honor Professor Award.

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

2024 Senior Merit Awards

The Senior Merit Award is the highest award given to undergraduates by the College and presented at Convocation. 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:

• Chris Barron, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Julia Belz, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Conley Boatright, Department of Nutrition.
• Ryan Boersma, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Sydney Christensen, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics .
• Miles Cook, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Caitlin Dailey, Department of Poultry Science.
• Katelyn Duncan, Department of Poultry Science.
• Emily Ecord, Department of Animal Science.
• Thomas “Ray” Edwards, Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
• Clayton Elbel, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Samantha Figueroa, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Abigail Flores, Department of Poultry Science.
• Fallon Frenzel, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Olivia Henry, Department of Entomology.
• Aidan Holman, Department of Entomology.
• Miles Huffhines, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• James Jeffrey, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• Cristin Kasprzak, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
• Katelyn Klawinsky, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Annabel Klemm, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Santos Manzano, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Jenna Mark, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
• Macie McCollum, Department of Animal Science.
• Kylee Medina, Department of Nutrition.
• Caitlyn Muckensturm, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Annette Saucedo Padron, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Grace Parks, Department of Animal Science.
• Rohan Phadke, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Gunner Purcell, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Hannah Rajlich, Department of Nutrition.
• Isabella Reyes-Pineda, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Michaelanne Roach, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
• Logan Russell,  Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism.
• Macy Strain, Department of Entomology.
• Alexandra Thompson, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Brittany Usoff, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
• Erin Vo, Department of Nutrition.
• Gage Walsh, Department of Animal Science.
• Zane Wanjura, Department of Animal Science.
• Karen Waters, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Camryn Wilder, Department of Poultry Science.
• Presley Wirebaugh, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Mikayla Wrenn, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Kasey Young, Department of Poultry Science.

Outstanding Student Awards

The College also celebrated winners of the Outstanding Student Awards, historically given by Alpha Zeta, an honorary professional society for students and industry professionals in agricultural and natural resources fields. The following were recognized:

• Outstanding Freshman: Miranda Skaggs, Department of Animal Science.
• Outstanding Sophomore: Hadley Harris, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Outstanding Junior: Brittley Bowers, Department of Animal Science.

Nominations for university-level awards

Among the most prestigious undergraduate awards at Texas A&M are the Brown-Rudder, Gates-Muller and the Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service awards. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences nominates two students for Brown-Rudder, and one each for Gates-Muller and the Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service awards.

• Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award nominees this year are Chris Barron and Clayton Elbel.
• The Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award nominee is Mamie Hertel, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• The Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service Award nominee is Kasey Young.

Teaching Excellence

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, presented annually at Convocation.

• Honor Professor Award: Nathan Harness, Ph.D., director of the Financial Planning Program and professor, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award: Jack Elliott, Ph.D., regional director for Africa for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development and professor, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication.

2024 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 represent the College at numerous events to meet with and answer questions from prospective students.

Ambassadors during the past year were:

• A.J. Brewton, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
• Ainsley Burns, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Brittley Bowers.
• Caitlin Castro, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
• Chris Barron.
• Coltyn Cook, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
• Haley Russell, Department of Entomology.
• Kyle Murphy, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Lee Michalik, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Makensie Till, Department of Poultry Science.
• Michael Penner, Department of Animal Science.
• Olivia Henry.
• Olivia Vogt, Department of Animal Science.
• Presley Wirebaugh.
• Rachael Detten, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Samara Huezo, Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism.
• Samuel Clarke, Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism.
• Zachary Hoelscher, Department of Animal Science.
• Maddie Sults, Department of Food Science and Technology.
• Marianne Howell, Department of Food Science and Technology.

Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy program interns

• Zane Wanjura, Department of Animal Science.
• Owen Gibson, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Rachael Detten.
• Katelyn Klawinsky.
• Reagan Powers, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Alexandria Cozzitorto, Department of Animal Science.
• Shikhadri Mahanta, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Thomas “Ray” Edwards.
• Lucas Trosper, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
• Annabel Klemm.

Student Council officers

The convocation was led by the 2023-2024 officers of the College’s Student Council:

• President: Miles Huffhines.
• Vice President of Leadership: Brittley Bowers.
• Vice President of Finance: Cooper Ford, Department of Animal Science.
• Vice President of Service: Zachary Hoelscher.
• Vice President of Public Relations: Anna Hiser, Department of Animal Science.
• Vice President of Programs: Caden Carver, Department of Animal Science.

The 2024-2025 officers for the College’s Student Council were also recognized:

• President: Brittley Bowers.
• Vice President of Mentorship: Austin Blagg, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Vice President of Service: Greyson Castillo, Department of Animal Science.
• Vice President of Leadership: Riki Nardiello, Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Vice President of Public Relations: Zoee Nolen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
• Vice President of Programs: Jace Owen, Department of Animal Science.
• Vice President of Finance: Tanner Owens, Department of Animal Science.

Event photos

Convocation photos from are available at tx.ag/2024AGLSConvocationPhotos.