on April 16, 2026.
PULLMAN, Wash. — Decked out in plaid shirts and cowboy boots, a large group gathered in Ensminger Pavilion on April 16 to celebrate undergraduates and graduate students in Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).
The western-themed awards ceremony offered a chance to recognize outstanding seniors, emerging leaders, clubs, and more.
“I am thrilled by this opportunity to celebrate the dedication, hard work, and talent of our outstanding CAHNRS students,” said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS. “Our awardees exemplify excellence in every sense, and we are proud of their achievements and look forward to their contributions in the future.”
Below is a list of this year’s student award winners and nominees:
Top Scholar’s Excellence Award
The CAHNRS Top Scholars program is an opportunity for the highest-achieving incoming students, offering enriched, personalized academic experiences. Scholars engage with world-class faculty, explore research through exclusive events, develop professionally, and apply classroom learning to real-world challenges.
Winner: Tessa Berendsen
Undergraduate Awards
CAHNRS For All Undergraduate Excellence Award
This award is presented annually to any student obtaining a degree within CAHNRS. The purpose of the award is to recognize a student who demonstrates leadership in building community spaces, upholds the university’s mission statements, and fosters belonging for all. Requirements include a 3.0 GPA. Students must be enrolled in CAHNRS as a second-year student or above, or a transfer student.
Winner: Esther Grosz
Nominees: Sara Pineros and Susana Belen Naranjo-Pelayo
Cashup Davis Merit in Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences Award
This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student from agricultural and natural resource science programs in CAHNRS. The Cashup Davis merit is an acknowledgement of a student who demonstrated a balance among academic achievements, leadership, extracurricular activities, and engagement within communities at WSU and/or in local communities. Winners must be in good academic standing.
Winner: Rocio Sevilla Martinez
Nominees: Sam Snekvik, Sophia Rees, and Rachel Yee
Cashup Davis Merit in Human Sciences Award
This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student from a human sciences program in CAHNRS. The Cashup Davis merit is an acknowledgement of a student who demonstrated a balance among academic achievements, leadership, extracurricular activities, and engagement within communities at WSU and/or in local communities. Winners must be in good academic standing.
Winner: Rachel Jones
Nominees: Matthew Bunge, Britney Nguyen, and Joseph Reyes-Hernandez
Graduating Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences Research Award
This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student from agricultural and natural resource science programs within CAHNRS. The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who demonstrated outstanding progression toward publishing and/or presenting research completed during their undergraduate studies.
Winner: Esther Grosz
Nominees: Rachel Yee and Sophia Rees
Graduating Human Sciences Research Award
Graduating Human Sciences Research Award
This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student from human science-focused programs within CAHNRS. The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who demonstrated outstanding progression toward publishing and/or presenting research completed during their undergraduate studies.
Winner: Matthew Bunge
Nominees: Daniel Arinez and Madeline Reyes
Emerging Leader in Agricultural Sciences Award
This award is presented to outstanding second- or third-year students or transfer students in CAHNRS who are not yet graduating. The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who demonstrated a balance between academic achievements, leadership, and activities. Winners must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Winner: Rosemarie Faisao
Nominees: Matthew Zimmel & Oscar Wise
Emerging Leader in Human Sciences Award
This award is presented to outstanding second- or third-year students or transfer students in CAHNRS who are not yet graduating. The purpose of this award is to recognize a student who demonstrated a balance between academic achievements, leadership, and activities. Winners must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Winner: Nora Johnson
Nominees: John Peterson and Jaelyn Christensen
Graduate Awards
CAHNRS Graduate Student Leadership Award
This award recognizes and celebrates graduate students who demonstrate leadership that has positively impacted their unit, college, campus, or wider community. The award is not just for longstanding leaders; it is reserved for those who have made significant positive contributions or improvements to the operations and functions of these programs, initiatives, or organizations. The winner receives $1,000. Nominees must be in good academic standing.
Winner: Edmund Larbi Afari
Nominee: Rachel Potter
CAHNRS For All Graduate Excellence Award
This award recognizes graduate students who have shown active involvement in improving communities by fostering access for everyone, providing opportunities, and nurturing belonging for all. This award is for those who have had a significant positive influence and impact, and/or made improvements to all communities. Nominees must be in good academic standing.
Winner: Osasere Igbinoba
Student Club Award
Superior Club Award
This award recognizes a club that has carried out activities to benefit its members both academically and socially.
Winner: Coug ‘n Up
Nominees: Agricultural Education Club, ASABE Student Engineering Branch, Food Science Product Development Club, and the WSU Global LGBTQ+ Club
Outstanding Seniors
- Andrew Lehmann: Economic Science – International Economics & Development
- April Gascon-Stricker: Human Development
- Britney Nguyen: Apparel Design
- Emilia Heiser: Apparel Merchandising
- Olivia Campos: Human Development
- Rachel Jones: Economic Science – Policy and Law
- Rocio Sevilla: Agricultural and Food Business Economics
- Rachel Yee: Integrated Plant Science – Agricultural Biotechnology
- Sophia Rees: Landscape Nursery and Greenhouse Management
- Esther Grosz: Economic Sciences – Agricultural Economics
- Madeline Reyes: Human Development
- Matthew Bunge: Economic Science- Quantitative Methods
- Natalie Camerino: Food Science
View the entire photo album of award winners.