On Thursday, May 2, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Experiment Station celebrated the annual CAS/AES Awards to celebrate employees and students for their outstanding accomplishments over the last year.  

Nutrien Faculty Scholars 

As part of Nutrien’s investment in advancing our college’s strategic plan, the Nutrien Distinguished Scholar award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching, research and engagement, and who have had a significant impact on their field. 

• Jessica Prenni, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture 
• Dana Hoag, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Graduate Student Showcase Winners 

Top College Honors  

• Tais de Menezes, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 
• Rachel Jones, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture  
• Katherin Meza, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences  

 Agricultural Biology  

• Jinlong Han, Postdoctoral researcher  
• William Kramer, Ph.D. candidate  
• Henrique Vieira, Ph.D. candidate  

Animal Sciences  

• David Velazco, Ph.D. candidate  
• Jessica Carvalho Seabra, Postdoctoral researcher  
• Colton Smith, Ph.D. candidate  

Agricultural and Resource Economics  

•  Zarif Rasul, Ph.D. candidate  
• Aisha Al Maamari, Ph.D. candidate  
• Caleb Axlund, M.S. student  

Horticulture and Landscape Architecture  

• Rae McDowell, M.S. student  
• Armando Villa-Ignacio, M.S. student  
• Samantha Rosado, Ph.D. student  

Soil and Crop Sciences  

• Girma Feleke, Ph.D. candidate  
• Taylor Bacon, Ph.D. candidate  
• Tess Noble Strohm, M.S. student  

 Strata Award  

• Jeongyun Choi, AgBio Ph.D. candidate 

Charles N. Shepardson Award Recipients 

Graduate Student Teaching Award 

A current graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom during the past academic year teaching agriculture-related courses.  

•  Rachael Stucke, Department of Animal Sciences 
• Makenzie Lee, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture 

Graduate Student Mentor  

A current CAS/AES faculty member who demonstrates the highest level of quality in the mentoring of graduate students in teaching, research, and service. 

• Punya Nachappa, Department of Agricultural Biology 

Faculty Teaching Award <10 Years Experience at CSU 

A current faculty member, with under 10 years teaching experience at CSU, who has demonstrated excellence in classroom teaching of agriculture-related courses at CSU within the past academic year.  

• Scott Carman, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture 
• Jude Bayham, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 

Instructional Innovation 

A current CAS/AES faculty member who has developed and implemented innovative approaches to the teaching/learning or assessment processes in a course, a component of a course, or continuing professional education within the past academic year. 

• Robyn Roberts, Department of Agricultural Biology 

North American College and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)/Charles N. Shepardson Meritorious Teaching Award 

A CSU faculty member that represents the very best in teaching agriculture-related courses in the college. 

• Matt Camper, Department of Agricultural Biology 

Charles N. Shepardson Student Leadership Award 

A current CAS undergraduate with senior standing who has demonstrated outstanding leadership ability during their undergraduate career through employment, activities, and organizations within the college and throughout the university related to agricultural sciences and has maintained a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA.  

• Jess Diehl, Department of Animal Sciences 
• Brittani Meis, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences 

CAS and AES Awards 

Outstanding Staff Award 

CAS/AES staff – including administrative professional employees, state classified employees, and post-doctoral fellows – who have demonstrated exceptional performance and a commitment to the success of CAS/AES through their service and support.  

• Kathy Bruce, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 
• CAS IT Team, Dean’s Office 

Outstanding Contributions to Student Success Award 

Faculty and staff members who have demonstrated a commitment to and impact on students’ lives within the college (undergraduate and graduate) through their advising, mentoring, guidance, and support. 

• Elias Quiñonez, Dean’s Office  
• Aubriel Zachman, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 

Come to the Table Inclusive Excellence Award 

A person who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and/or contributions to improving the inclusiveness and diversity of the College of Agricultural Sciences and our mission through their inclusive programming and/or leadership and demonstration of CSU’s Principles of Community.  

• Academic Support Coordinator Team 

Outstanding Community Engagement Scholarship Award – Emerging  

A relatively new initiative of less than three years that has shown potential for long-term impact, achievement, and scholarship. 

•  Wolf Reintroduction Initiative – Jesse Burkhardt and Dana Hoag, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 

Outstanding Contributions to Research and Scholarship Award  

Faculty, research associates, staff (including non-student hourly employees), and graduate students, both campus-based and research center based, who contribute towards ongoing CAS research projects and make significant impact on research outcomes. 

• Steven Fonte, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (faculty)  
• Mahesh Nair, Department of Animal Sciences(faculty)  
• Sam Leuthold, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences (grad student)  
• Kevin Tanabe, Agricultural Experiment Station (staff)   

Early Career Scholarship Impact Award  

CAS/AES early career faculty who have demonstrated notable scholarly or creative achievement represented by a high-impact publication or portfolio of impactful publications; establishment of an exceptional center or research team; or outstanding invention, innovation, or artistic accomplishment. 

•  Marek Borowiec, Department of Agricultural Biology 

Fruit of the Tree Award  

An individual or team whose teaching, research and/or engagement advances CAS/AES thematic priorities from our strategic plan: innovating local and global food systems; advancing the science of regenerative agricultural systems; accelerating agriculture’s climate resiliency; nurturing human wellness and thriving communities 

•  Meagan Schipanski, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences 

CAS Lincoln Laureate Award  

CAS/AES faculty and staff who have demonstrated exceptional balance and joint excellence across teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and service in the best spirit of the land-grant university mission. 

•  Troy Bauder, Agricultural Experiment Station 

Excellence in Collaborative Research Award  

A team that demonstrates a record of collaborative, interdisciplinary research and scholarly activities that have contributed to the advancement of science and achieved a positive impact on end users. 

• Microbiome Network  

Lee Sommers Award   

Recognizes a senior faculty member in the College of Agricultural Sciences for their long and distinguished career based on excellence in teaching, research, and/or outreach. 

•  Jan Leach, Department of Agricultural Biology