70th annual Convocation celebrates Agriculture and Life Sciences students
Honorees recognized for leadership, scholarship and service at milestone ceremony
Students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate outstanding achievement at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 70th annual Convocation on April 11 at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex.
The milestone 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 leadership and service of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council officers and Student Ambassadors.
2026 Senior Merit Awards
The Senior Merit Award is the highest honor given to undergraduates by the College. 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 2026 calendar year.
The following students are the 2026 Senior Merit honorees:
- Reagan Barnett, Department of Poultry Science.
- Austin Blagg, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Brianna Bongard, Department of Animal Science.
- Hallie Cook, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
- Avery Dean, Department of Nutrition.
- Daniella De Luca, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
- Tommy Egbert, Department of Poultry Science.
- Tucker Gillespie, Department of Animal Science.
- Hadley Harris, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Amanda Hoffmann, Department of Animal Science.
- Trey Hoffmann, Department of Animal Science.
- Brooke Isbell, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
- Laura Beth James, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Nathan Kerth, Department of Animal Science.
- Campbell Kuryk, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Daniel Kwong, Department of Horticultural Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
- Ella LaGrange, Department of Nutrition.
- Gracie Lenz, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
- Kayla Leonard, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
- Noël Lopreore, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
- Zoë Meeks, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Kai Miller, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
- Olivia Mo, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
- Mallory Morelli, Department of Food Science and Technology.
- Madison Murphy, Department of Nutrition.
- Riki Nardiello, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Zoee Nolen, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Tanner Owen, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Ava Planey, Department of Entomology.
- Erin Ratcliff, Department of Nutrition.
- Kathryn Reynolds, Department of Entomology.
- Nicole Ross, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
- Paris Sanchez, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Justin Speis, Department of Poultry Science.
- Kylee Svinky, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
- Sydney Van Cleave, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Irissa Vera, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
- Rebecca Wagner, Department of Nutrition.
- Travis Zipp, Department of Poultry Science.
- Mallory Zumwalt, Department of Poultry Science.
Outstanding Student awards
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: Elyse Taubert, Department of Nutrition.
- Outstanding Sophomore: Matthew Stinebaker, Department of Food Science and Technology.
- Outstanding Junior: Miranda Skaggs, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
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.
Nominees are selected by the College’s scholarship committee and recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to the Aggie core values.
- Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award nominees are Tucker Gillespie and Tanner Owen.
- The Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award nominee is Austin Blagg.
- The Class of ’80 E. King Gill Selfless Service Award nominee is Avery Dean.
Teaching excellence
The College celebrated faculty excellence with the Honor Professor Award and the Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award, presented annually at Convocation.
- Honor Professor Award: Jenna Kurten, Ph.D., assistant dean for student success for the College and instructional assistant professor in the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism.
- Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award: Allyson Spears, Ph.D., instructional assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
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 2026-2027 Ambassadors are:
- Boluwasefe Adelugba, Department of Entomology.
- Henri Bariselle, Department of Poultry Science.
- Hallie Bates, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
- Sidney Brueggeman, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
- Daniella Cols, Department of Entomology.
- Koda Davis, Department of Animal Science.
- Roa Elsaigh, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
- Emma Fenton, Department of Animal Science.
- Mabry Herrmann, Aplin Department of Hospitality.
- Sinead Izediuno, Department of Food Science and Technology.
- Daniel Kwong.
- Gracie Lenz.
- Kai Miller.
- Davis Nix, Department of Animal Science.
- Tres Spencer, Department of Animal Science and Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Joaquin Tagle, Department of Animal Science.
- Anna Tillinghast, Department of Nutrition.
- Sydney Van Cleave.
- Irissa Vera.
Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy program interns
Washington, D.C., interns:
- Amanda Hoffman.
- Tanner Owen.
- Riki Naridello.
- Gabby Shultz, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Kyle Murphy, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Kyla Beck, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Rishika Chimanji, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology.
- Bryson Stone, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Joaquin Tagle.
- Bailey Smith, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Keely Mikolajchak, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Jaci Dutton, Department of Agricultural Economics.
Student Council officers
The convocation was led by the 2025-2026 officers of the College’s Student Council:
- 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.
- Vice President of Finance: Laney Ferrell, Department of Agricultural Economics.
The 2026-2027 officers for the College’s Student Council were also recognized:
- President: Blake Koether, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Vice President of Mentorship: Cash Smith, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Vice President of Service: Miranda Skaggs.
- Vice President of Leadership: Avery Fohn, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Vice President of Public Relations: Audri Poage, Department of Agricultural Economics.
- Vice President of Programs: Chloe Jones, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications.
- Vice President of Finance: Bryce Borchardt, Department of Animal Science.
Event photos
Convocation photos are available at tx.ag/2026AGLSConvocationPhotos.
