This issue of InFocus is devoted entirely to celebrating all our award winners in the College of Agriculture throughout the 2017-2018 academic year. This issue features select national/international, university, and college awards. The second issue, which you’ll see in a few days, will contain all the awards from our units and departments.
Congratulations to all of our award and recognition recipients at all levels, and thanks to all of those who supported our winners in the classroom, put together award nominations, or were involved in the recognition process in some way. We work hard to make sure everything is included in these issues, but if we missed any award winners, please let us know!
Another very busy academic year has come to an end. Thanks very much to all of you for all you do to make Purdue Agriculture great. Have a great summer!
All the best,
Tim Baker, Agricultural Economics: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Agricultural and Finance Management Section Publication of Lasting Impact
Arun Bhunia, Food Science: GMA Food Safety Award and Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award, International Association for Food Protection
Sylvie Brouder, Agronomy: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science; Elected President, American Society of Agronomy
Natalie Carroll, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: Elected to Board of Directors, University Council on Water Resources
Theresa Casey, Animal Sciences: American Physiological Society Select Award 2018
Indrajeet Chaubey, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Fellow, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Elizabeth Flaherty, Forestry and Natural Resources: Association of Public and Land-grant Universities 2017 Innovative Teaching Award
Rick Foster, Entomology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Michael Gunderson, Agricultural Economics: John Deere Award for Outstanding Teaching and Programs in Agribusiness, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
Thomas Hertel, Agricultural Economics: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Peter Hirst, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: Fellow, American Society for Horticultural Sciences; 2018-2019 Jefferson Science Fellow
Greg Hunt, Entomology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Liz Karcher, Animal Sciences: 2018 Purina Animal Nutrition Teaching Award in Dairy Science
Brad Kim, Animal Sciences: Outstanding Young Researcher Award, and Early Career Achievement Award, American Society for Animal Sciences
Eileen Kladivko, Agronomy: S.H. Phillips Distinguished Lecture in No-Till Agriculture, University of Kentucky
Christian Krupke, Entomology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Michael Ladisch, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Jayson Lusk, Agricultural Economics: 2017 Borlaug CAST Communication Award; Fellow, Western Agricultural Economics Association
Suzanne Nielsen, Food Science: USDA National Excellence in College and University Teaching Award
Doug Richmond, Entomology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Jacob Ricker-Gilbert, Agricultural Economics: Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Analysis, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
Cliff Sadof, Entomology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Darrell Schulze, Agronomy: National Cooperative Soil Survey 2017 Cooperator Achievement Award
Dan Szymanski, Botany and Plant Pathology: Fellow, American Society of Plant Biologists
Elizabeth Tran, Biochemistry: Lifetime Achievement Award in Service, RNA Society
Mitch Tuinstra, Agronomy: Fellow, American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America
Hazel Wetzstein, Fellow, American Society for Horticultural Science
Fred Whitford, Botany and Plant Pathology: 2017 Entomology Educational Project Award, Certified Entomologists of Mid-America
Patrick Zollner, Forestry and Natural Resources: Association of Public and Land-grant Universities 2017 Innovative Teaching Award
Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: National Social Worker of the Year, National Association of Social Workers
Dane Chapman, Agricultural Economics: Land O’Lakes Global Food Challenge Emerging Leader
Bailee Cook, Agronomy: Land O’Lakes Global Food Challenge Emerging Leader
Caitlinn Lineback, Food Science: USDA 2018 Agricultural Outlook Forum
Katriel Marks, Plant Genetics and Breeding, Land O’Lakes Global Food Challenge Emerging Leader
Sabrina Myoda, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: 2017 Udall Scholar
Jason Ackerson, Agronomy: 2018-2019 Scholarship of Engagement Fellow
Natalia Dudareva, Biochemistry/Horticulture and Landscape Architecture: 2018 Herbert Newby McCoy Award
Jeffrey Dukes, Forestry and Natural Resources: Belcher Chair for Environmental Sustainability
Paul Ebner, Animal Sciences: Faculty Engagement Scholar Award
Bruce Erickson, Agronomy, with Janine Black, Agronomy, and Debbie Runshe, IT Teaching and Learning Technologies: Purdue Excellence in Digital Education: Course Design and Teaching (Non-Credit) award
Songlin Fei, Forestry and Natural Resources: 2018 University Faculty Scholar
Timothy Gibb, Entomology: Faculty Engagement Fellow Award
Kevin Gibson, Botany and Plant Pathology: 2018 Dreamer Award
Jules Janick, Hoticulture and Landscape Architecture: Purdue Innovators Hall of Fame
Kee-Hong Kim, Food Science: Showalter University Faculty Scholar
Michael Mashtare, Agronomy: 2018 Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award; 2017-2018 Teaching for Tomorrow Fellowship
Pamala Morris, Agriculture Administration/Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: Susan Bulkeley Butler Center Leadership in Action Award; 2018 On-Campus Vision Award, Center for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment, Research (CILMAR)
Larry Murdock, Entomology: 2018 Morrill Award
Haley Oliver, Food Science: 2018 Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
Christian Oseto, Entomology: 150th Anniversary Professor
Jerry Shively, Agricultural Economics, 2018 Purdue Policy Research Institute Excellence in Research Award 
Andy Tao, Biochemistry: 2017 Outstanding Commercialization Award
Hui-Hui Wang, Agricultural Sciences and Education: 2018-2019 Scholarship of Engagement Fellow
Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension: Staff Engagement Award
Brandon Allen, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: One Brick Higher Award
Lauren Brizgys, Agriculture Sciences Education and Communication: NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award
Erin Kenison, Forestry and Natural Resources: Honorable Mention, Graduate Student Mentoring Award
Samantha Lee, Biochemistry: Graduate Student Mentoring Award
Sarah Meuller, Agronomy: First Place, Graduate School Three-Minute Thesis Competition
Akane Ota, Forestry and Natural Resources: Second Place, Graduate School Three-Minute Thesis Competition
Brandon Rice, Agriculture Sciences Education and Communication: NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award
Kelsey Sajdera, Agriculture Sciences Education and Communication: NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award
Allie Abney, Agricultural Economics/Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: France Cordova Leadership in Action Award
Oswaldo Campanella, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Student Choice Award for Spotlight Educator
Douglass Jacobs, Forestry and Natural Resources: 2018 Corinne Alexander Spirit of the Land Grant Mission Award
Shaneka Lawson, Forestry and Natural Resources: Unsung Diversity Hero Award
John Lumkes, with Jose Garcia Bravo and Dan Taylor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: PK-12 Sustained Faculty Impact Award
Paul Preckel, Agricultural Economics: Outstanding Graduate Mentor/Teacher Award
Marisol Sepúlveda, Forestry and Natural Resources: 2018 Agriculture Research Award
John Cavaletto, Botany and Plant Pathology: Outstanding Service to Students in the College of Agriculture
Barry Delks, Animal Sciences: Student Choice Award for Outstanding Service Leadership
Kelly Delp, Agriculture Advancement: PK-12 Outreach and Engagement Staff Award
Carmen DeRusha, Purdue Extension: Unsung Diversity Hero Award
Andy Oppy, Agricultural Economics: Student Choice Award for Outstanding Club/Organization Advisor
Shelly Wischmeier, Sheri Fell, and Susan Kremer: 2017 College of Agriculture Business Office Service Award
Torrie Cropps, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication: Graduate Student Pathmaker Award
Rooney Kim Lazcano, Agronomy/Ecological Sciences and Engineering: Graduate Student Pathmaker Award
Megan Taylor, Agronomy: Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Assistant
Malithi Wickramathilaka, Agricultural and Biological Engineering: Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Assistant
Brandon Sosa, Forestry and Natural Resources: Outstanding Freshman
Nelson Knobloch, Agricultural Economics: Outstanding Sophomore
Stephanie Price, Biochemistry: Outstanding Junior
Abdias Rodriguez, Biochemistry: Outstanding Senior
Kris Parker, Paul B. Crooks Award
Barb Beaulieu, Outstanding Extension/Faculty Specialist Award
John Baugh, Director’s Award
Individual: Sara Dzimianski, Perry County
Team: Mark Kepler (Fulton), Megan Voyles (Scott), Danielle Howell-Walker (Washington), and Ron Lemenager (professor, Department of Animal Sciences)
Jan Dougan, Dubois County
Individual: Nancy Hudson, Fulton County
Team: Teresa Witkoske (Wabash), Lindsey Pedigo (Howard), Jane Horner (Cass), Barb Beaulieu (Human Development Extension Specialist), Esmerelda Cruz (Clinton) and Mindy Mayes (Grant). Not pictured: Kim Frazier (Miami)
Individual: Malea Huffman, Greene County
Bob Amick Award: Jill Andrew-Richards, Ohio County
4-H Youth Development Team Award: Lesley Lodmell (Lawrence), Liz Beiersdorfer (Dearborn), Heather VonDielingen (Jackson), Lisa Wilson (Gibson) and Peg Ehlers (Switzerland). Not pictured: Katie Whiteford (Clark)
Cooperative Extension Service Team Award: Megan Hoffherr (Gibson), Hans Schmitz (Gibson) and Meagan Brothers (Vanderburgh)
Diversity Award: Esmerelda Cruz, Clinton County
Kara Stewart, Animal Sciences: Early Career Award
Ronald Lemenager, Animal Sciences: Mid-Career Award
Bob Nielsen, Agronomy: Career Award
Keith Johnson, Agronomy: Leadership Award
Drew Lugar, Animal Sciences: Graduate Student Award
Ann Hancook Award: Barb Beaulieu (Human Development Extension Specialist). Not pictured: Deb Arseneau (Newton), Liz Beiersdorfer (Dearborn), Meagan Brothers (Vanderburgh), Megan Broughton (Washington), Jay Christiansen (Vigo), Jan Dougan (Dubois), Peg Ehlers (Switzerland), Teri Hornberger (Decatur), Jennifer McGuire (Dubois), Mandy Medbourn (Pulaski / Starke), Joni Muchler (Washington), Monica Nagele (Montgomery), Amy Nierman (Southwest District Director), Marcia Parcell (Dearborn), Angela Rathert (Jefferson), Alice Smith (Jasper), Karenlee Spencer (formerly of Parke) and Abby Sweet (Montgomery)
Team Award: Kris Medic (Bartholomew), Kara Salazar (Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant), John Orick (Purdue Master Gardener State Coordinator) and Rosie Lerner (consumer horticulturist, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture). Not pictured: Laura Esman (Water Quality Program Coordinator, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources) and Jane Frankenberger (professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering)