The people who show Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at its best were recognized at the annual CAHNRS Honors awards ceremony.
The awards recognize students, teachers, support staff, and volunteers for excellence in learning, research, and improving their college and communities.
The 2015 CAHNRS Honors awards night was held Thursday, March 26, at the SEL Event Center in Pullman.
General awards
• R. James Cook was inducted into the college’s Wall of Honor. Cook is a professor emeritus, interim CAHNRS dean from 2003 to 2005, and retired USDA-ARS research plant pathologist. He is one of the most honored research scientists in USDA and Washington State University history, for his work in plant pathology and biotechnology. Cook resides in Bothell, Wash.
• Jim and Lee Ella Ruck jointly received the Volunteer of the Year award. The Rucks, both alumni of WSU, are highly involved in CAHNRS. A scholarship for student researchers in the Department of Food Science is named for them. The Rucks reside in Everett, Wash.
• Janet Schmidt, professor, Whitman County Extension director and 4-H Youth Educator, was named Faculty of the Year. Schmidt has spent 17 years working with 4-H youth, helping them prepare for college, graduation, and giving back by becoming 4-H leaders.
• Danielle Englehardt, principal assistant and travel/purchasing specialist in the Food Science and Clark Hall Business Center, received the Staff of the Year award. She has often shown service as a trainer, volunteer, donor, and on many staff committees.
Student awards
• Troy Carpenter, majoring in Economic Sciences, financial markets option, was named Family and Consumer Scientist of the Year. Carpenter’s hometown is Vancouver, Wash.
• Brandon Nickels, majoring in Agricultural and Food Systems, Agricultural and Food Business Economics, was named Aggie of the Year. Nickels’ hometown is Stanwood, Wash.
• Hayley Homan, majoring in Economic Sciences, quantitative economics option, was named Outstanding Junior in Human Sciences. Homan’s hometown is Shoreline, Wash.
• Jenica Hagler, majoring in Agricultural and Food Systems, Agricultural and Food Business Economics, was named Outstanding Junior in Agricultural or Natural Resource Sciences. Hagler’s hometown is Kuna, Idaho.
• Kyle Strachila, majoring in Agricultural and Food Systems, Agricultural and Food Business Economics, was named Emerging Undergrad in Agricultural or Natural Resource Sciences. Strachila’s hometown is Deming, Wash.
• Christina Andresen, majoring in Interior Design, was named Emerging Undergrad in Human Sciences. Andresen’s hometown is Bellevue, Wash.
• Cooperative University Dairy Students, the Food Engineering Club, Horticulture Club and the International Development Club earned the Superior Club award.
Outstanding Seniors
Agricultural and Food Business Economics, Rodrigo Bonilla, Prosser, Wash.; Agricultural Technology and Production Management, Stephen Bradshaw, Ridgefield, Wash.; Agricultural Education, Austin Baker, Yelm, Wash.; Agricultural Biotechnology, Cody Dean, Monroe, Wash.; Field Crop Management, Dolores Covarrubias, Wenatchee, Wash.; Viticulture and Enology, Pirom Phadoemchit, Singapore; Animal Sciences, Kelby Stadt, Everson, Wash.; Apparel Design, Anthony Melo, Othello, Wash.; Merchandising, Quinn Sullivan, Lake Forest Park, Wash.; Human Development, Emily Reichlin, Covington, Wash.; Human Development Global Campus, Callie Tobiason, Gig Harbor, Wash.; Landscape Architecture, Susie Gomez, Carlsbad, N.M.; Interior Design, KC Smelser, Fort Shaw, Mont.; Natural Resource Sciences, Amanda Moody, Renton, Wash.; Wildlife Ecology, Janelle Badger, Kirkland, Wash.; Food Science, Katie Smoot, Kennewick, Wash.; Economic Analysis and Policy, Ben Wildt, Issaquah, Wash.; Agricultural Economics, Shane Reed, Yakima, Wash.; Financial Markets, Troy Carpenter, Vancouver, Wash.; Economics Graduate School Preparation, Wendiam Sawadgo, Pullman, Wash.
Faculty awards
• Mark Nelson, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, received the R.M. Wade Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award.
• John Kuehner, scientific assistant in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, received the Administrative Professional Technical Staff Excellence Award.
• Debra Marsh, academic coordinator at the Johnson Hall Graduate Center, received the Administrative Professional Excellence Award.
• Cathy Blood, conference coordinator in the School of Food Science, received the Classified Clerical/Fiscal Staff Experience Award.
• John Swain, dairy center manager in the Department of Animal Sciences, earned the Classified Technical Staff Excellence Award.
• Arron Carter, winter wheat breeder, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, received the Early Career Excellence Award.
• Kristen Johnson, professor, Department of Animal Sciences, received the Excellence in Advising Award.
• Karen Killinger, associate professor and extension food safety specialist, School of Food Science, received the Faculty Excellence in Extension Award.
• Hanu Pappu, Professor of Plant Pathology and Samuel H. Smith Distinguished Professor of Plant Virology, Department of Plant Pathology, received the Faculty Excellence in Research Award.
• The WSU Quinoa Research and Extension Team earned the Team Interdisciplinary Award. The team includes Kevin Murphy, John Reganold, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, Rachel Wieme, David Crowder, Kisusan Khati, Virginia Nichols, Guiliana Noratto, Gaby Medina, Janet Matanguihan, Hannah Walters, Cedric Habiyaremye, Leonardo Hinojosa, Julianne Kellogg, Alison Detjens, Craig Morris, Max Wood, Jessica Goldberger, Emily Green-Tracewicz, Ivan Milosavljevic, Elias Bloom, Tim Miller, Joan Davenport, Carolyn Ross, Geyang Wu, Girish Ganjyal, Rocio Rabanal, Nicole Aluwi, Kristofor Ludvigson, Ian Clarkand Ryan Kowalski.
Links
• Learn about volunteer opportunities in the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences here: http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/alumni/
• Learn more about studies at CAHNRS here: http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/academics
• Learn more about research at CAHNRS, here: http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/research