COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twenty-five seniors have received the most prestigious undergraduate award at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
The Distinguished Senior Award honors top graduating seniors on the Ohio State Columbus campus who exemplify the CFAES mission in areas such as academics and scholarship, research and innovation, service and involvement, and influence and leadership.
“The 2021 recipients are our future innovators and leaders who have already made an impact within the academic environment at this university and beyond,” said Steven Neal, CFAES professor and associate dean for academic programs.
Listed below are the Distinguished Seniors, including their academic units, majors, and hometowns.
Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership
- Melanie Fuhrmann, Community Leadership, Wheelersburg, Ohio
- Courtney Heiser, Agricultural Communication, Attica, Ohio
- Olivia Pflaumer, Agriscience Education, Chillicothe, Ohio
- Milan Pozderac, Agriscience Education, Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
- Zeke Miller, Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Oceanside, California
- Todd Peterson, Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Sabina, Ohio
Department of Animal Sciences
- Annika Diaz, Animal Sciences, Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Brietta Latham, Animal Sciences, Thurmont, Maryland
- Allison Rapp, Animal Sciences, Xenia, Ohio
- Laura Tavera Montañez, Animal Sciences, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Cameron White, Animal Sciences, Washington, Pennsylvania
Department of Entomology
- Vashti Tatman, Entomology, Columbus, Ohio
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- Chris Baird, Agricultural Systems Management, Springfield, Ohio
- Rachel Leitson, Construction Systems Management, Pepper Pike, Ohio
- Jacob Lesch, Agricultural Systems Management, Fredonia, New York
- Clare Sollars, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Washington Court House, Ohio
Department of Food Science and Technology
- Philip Eberly, Food Science and Technology, Wooster, Ohio
- Jacqui Fox, Food Science and Technology, Dayton, Ohio
- Natalia Jaspeado Becerra, Food Science and Technology, Mexico City, Mexico
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
- Rachael Cline, Sustainable Plant Systems, Toronto, Ohio
- Jason Hollick, Sustainable Plant Systems, Dublin, Ohio
School of Environment and Natural Resources
- Tara Allen, Environmental Science, Mason, Ohio
- Brian Bush, Environmental Science, Columbus, Ohio
- Melina Mallory, Environmental Science, Playa Del Rey, California
- Jayson Velazquez, Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability, Paterson, New Jersey
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recognition of the CFAES Distinguished Seniors will occur on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, via a YouTube Premiere video beginning at 7 p.m. on the Ohio State—College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences YouTube channel. Vice President for Agricultural Administration and CFAES Dean Cathann A. Kress will recognize award recipients during this special event.
“Unfortunately, we will be unable to gather in person, but the safety of our community is our top priority,” Neal said. “However, this honor and these 25 students remain an important focus of our college. Their commitment to their education and dedication to their time as an undergraduate student will still be recognized via social media, professional networking platforms, and the YouTube Premiere video. We invite everyone to view the video on April 7.”
In autumn 2020, there were 2,457 undergraduate students in CFAES pursuing 22 majors and 32 minors. Learn more about CFAES academic programs at go.osu.edu/B4V2.
— Ohio State University CFAES
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