Students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate achievements at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 69th annual Convocation on April 5 at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex.

A woman in a white blazer and red dress speaks into a microphone at a podium. The podium has the Texas A&M logo on it, and there is a banner that reads, "College of Agriculture and Life Sciences" beside her.
Brittley Bowers ’25 finished her year of service as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council President at the 69th Annual Convocation. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

The event honored students from across the College with Senior Merit Awards, university-level student award nominations and Outstanding Student Awards for a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Faculty members were recognized with the Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award and the Honor Professor Award.

The evening also celebrated the service and leadership of the College of Agriculture and Life Science Student Council officers and Student Ambassadors.

2025 Senior Merit Awards

The Senior Merit Award is the highest honor given to undergraduates by the College and is presented at Convocation. For over 50 years, this award has recognized graduating seniors who demonstrate leadership, scholarship and service at the department, college and university levels.

Students are nominated by their major, and winners are selected by the College scholarship committee based on academic excellence, community involvement, professional and civic engagement, internships, employment, awards, honors and achievements in undergraduate research. To be eligible, students must be projected to graduate during the 2025 calendar year.

The following students from across the College are the 2025 Senior Merit honorees:

Outstanding Student Awards

The College also recognized recipients of the Outstanding Student Awards, which were historically presented by Alpha Zeta, an honorary professional society for students and professionals in agriculture and natural resources. The recognition transitioned to the College level last year.

Each year, academic departments nominate an outstanding freshman, sophomore and junior, and a College committee selects the final honorees.

The following were recognized:

  • Outstanding Freshman: Matthew Stinebaker, Department of Food Science and Technology
  • Outstanding Sophomore: Savay Sexton, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
  • Outstanding Junior: Koda Davis, Department of Poultry Science and Department of Animal Science

Nominations for university-level awards

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

Two men and a woman stand smiling in front of a backdrop with several logos that say, "Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences." The man in the middle is holding a framed award.
Cole Baerlocher ’25 was one of 45 students at Convocation who received the Senior Merit Award, the highest honor given to undergraduates by the College. Baerlocher also received the College’s nomination for the Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service Award. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Nominees are selected by the College’s scholarship committee. This year’s nominees were recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to the Aggie core values.

  • Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award nominees this year are Brittley Bowers and Zachary Hoelscher.
  • The Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award nominee is Luke Bludau.
  • The Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service Award nominee is Cole Baerlocher.

Teaching Excellence

The College 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: Russell Cross, Ph.D., senior professor, Department of Animal Science.
  • Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award: Kati Stoddard, Ph.D., associate director for scholarship of teaching and learning at the Center for Teaching Excellence and instructional associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.

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

The 2025-2026 Ambassadors are:

  • Bolu Adelugba, Department of Entomology.
  • Hallie Bates, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
  • Brittley Bowers.
  • Koda Davis.
  • Rachael Detten, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Roa Elsaigh, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
  • Emma Fenton, Department of Animal Science.
  • Kacy Gerfers, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
  • Eddie Gonzalez, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Kai Miller, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
  • Davis Nix, Department of Animal Science.
  • Jayden Odom, Department of Animal Science.
  • Michael Penner III.
  • Gayla Rose, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
  • Haley Russell, Department of Entomology.
  • Isaiah Santibanez, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
  • Tres Spencer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Department of Animal Science.
  • Joaquin Tagle, Department of Animal Science.
  • Makensie Till.
  • Sydney Van Cleave, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
  • Olivia Vogt, Department of Animal Science.

Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy program interns

Washington, D.C. Interns:

  • Cole Baerlocher.
  • Sarah Beth Brittain, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Laney Ferrell, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Zoë Meeks, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Kaitlynn Hughes. 

Austin Interns:

  • Caitlin Castro.
  • Aiden Hunter, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Greyson Philippovic, Department of Animal Science.

Student Council officers

The Convocation was led by the 2024-2025 officers of the College’s Student Council:

Nine people dressed in business professional attire stand in front of a backdrop with several logos that say, "College of Agriculture and Life Sciences."
The 2024-2025 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council officers led the Convocation, their final event as officers. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)
  • 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 Owen, Department of Agricultural Economics.

The 2025-2026 officers for the College’s Student Council were also recognized:

  • President: Tanner Owen.
  • Vice President of Mentorship: Peyton Moore, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Vice President of Service: Riki Nardiello.
  • Vice President of Leadership: Zoë Meeks.
  • Vice President of Public Relations: Zoee Nolen.
  • Vice President of Programs: Kyla Beck, Department of Agricultural Economics.
  • Vice President of Finance: Laney Ferrell.

Event photos

Convocation photos from are available at tx.ag/2025AGLSConvocationPhotos.

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