Quarterly CFANS awards roundup | Q1 2024

In our quarterly celebration of award recipients across CFANS, we recognize students, faculty, staff and alumni who have received significant accolades. Congratulations to all recipients — we're #CFANSProud of you! The list below highlights awards received and/or announced in January through March 2024.

University Awards

• Horace T. Morse Alumni Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education: Mike Boland, Applied Economics
• Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education: Rex Bernardo, Agronomy and Plant Genetics (Read more)
• CFANS Research Symposium, Distinguished Oral Presentations: Andrew Benjamin Carter, Julian Scott Cooper
• CFANS Research Symposium, Distinguished Poster Presentations: Noor Huma, Caitlin Klaeui, Diana Lopez Arias, Hannah Rusch, Eric Yu
• CFANS Borealis Awards: Emilee Xayanourom, Grace Atchison, Lambda Delta Phi Sorority, Plant Pathology Student Organization, Royce Durhman, Oadi Matny, Rielle Perttu, Anup Kollanoor Johny, Francine Overcash, Applied Plant Sciences Graduate Student Club, Arlaina Meyer, Lori Cox, Mike Linton, Ethan Dado, Garrett Peterson, Sujaya Rao, Marc Albertsen
• Tree Campus Distinction, Arbor Day Foundation: University of Minnesota, led by Gary Johnson (Professor Emeritus, Forest Resources), UMN Landcare and Forestry students

Beyond the University

• USDA Forest Service 2023 Chief's Honor Award for Advancing DEI and Accessibility: Mike Dockry, Forest Resources, as part of the Forest Service Diversity Equity and Inclusion Research Team (Read more)
• College of Fellows Inductee, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering: Ping Wang, BBE
• Honorary Premier Seed Grower Award, Minnesota Crop Improvement Association: Eric Watkins, Horticultural Science
• MAELC Scholarship Recipients: Noah Erickson, Hally Frandrup, Rena Johnson, Kirsten Koerth, Amara Livingston, Rebecca Meger, Morgan Pickett and Taber Sheldrup, undergraduate students in Agricultural Education
• Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Inductee: Sally Noll, former faculty member and Professor Emeritus, Animal Science
• Minnesota Mycological Society Scholarship: Colin Peters, Nick Rajtar, Ryan Francke (Plant Pathology)
• Outstanding Dietetics Educator Award, West Central Region for the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Corrie Marion, Food Science and Nutrition
• Best Scientific Talk, North American Plant Phenotyping Network Conference: Julian Cooper, Plant Pathology PhD candidate
• Best Fast Forward Talk, North American Plant Phenotyping Network: Alejandra Quinones Arevalo, Agronomy & Plant Pathology
• Minnesota Mycological Society Scholarship Recipients: Colin Peters, Nick Rajtar and Ryan Francke, Plant Pathology graduate students (Read more)
• Telluride Mushroom Festival, Gary Lincoff Award for Contributions to Mycology: Robert Blanchette, Plant Pathology (Read more)
• 2024 Soybean Breeders Workshop, First Place Poster: Mjay Espina, Applied Plant Sciences graduate student 
• Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting
  • 3-Minute Talk Finalist: Eric Yu, Agronomy and Plant Genetics
  • First place posters: Sithin Mathew and Navjot Singh, Agronomy and Plant Genetics

CFANS Alumni Accomplishments

• Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, 2024 Women in Triticum (WIT) Early Career Award Recipient: Zennah Kosgey (Plant Pathology alumna)

To submit awards for inclusion in the next quarterly roundup, please complete this form and be sure to select the "Share an award recipient and corresponding award information" option.