Eight agriculture students named Academic All-Big Ten

Eight student-athletes from Purdue University's College of Agriculture earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition during the spring sports season, helping the university reach a record 92 recipients. A total of 256 student-athletes received the honor in 2020-21, another record. 

To qualify for Academic All-Big Ten honors, awardees must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher while enrolled full-time. 

Mateo Julio, Jackson Smeltz and Kasey Wilhoit earned additional recognition as two-time honorees. This season was the third time Taylor Mortensen and Tessa Sheets received the honor. 

The student-athletes, pictured below, represent the departments of agricultural and biological engineering, agricultural economics, agronomy and animal sciences.

 

Megan Casey

Megan Casey

Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Mason, Ohio
Track and Field

 

Mateo Julio

Mateo Julio

Agricultural Economics
Olavarria, Argentina 
Tennis

 

Emma Keesling portrait

Emma Keesling

Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Modoc, Indiana 
Track and Field

 

Taylor Mortensen running outdoors

Taylor Mortensen

Animal Sciences
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Track and Field

 

Ella Robinson running track

Ella Robinson

Agronomy
Zionsville, Indiana
Track and Field

 

Tessa Sheets jumping

Tessa Sheets

Animal Sciences
Chatham County, North Carolina
Track and Field

 

Jackson Smeltz Baseball

Jackson Smeltz

Agricultural Economics
Lafayette, Indiana
Baseball

 

Kasey Wilhoit

Kasey Wilhoit

Agronomy
Franklin, Indiana
Softball

 

Featured Stories

Dean Zimmerman holds a wild turkey in 1996; Zimmerman stands in a prairie; Zimmerman seines a stream with his grandson using a kick net.;
Meet Dean Zimmerman: 2025 Chase S. Osborn Award Winner

Although Dean Zimmerman (BS Wildlife 1971) retired in 2015 after spending 43 years with the...

Read More
The cover of Jessica Gurevitch's Book Life on Our Dynamic Planet; A headshot of Dr. Jessica Gurevitch
Gurevitch Explores Science Questions, Environment, Earth System in New Book

Dr. Jessica Gurevitch invites readers into a deeper understanding of the Earth system and its...

Read More
Ag Barometer
Optimism grows in October as current conditions improve

Farmer sentiment improved in October as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose...

Read More
Woman teaching students at Purdue.
Zhao Ma’s journey to her life’s work

Zhao Ma started her academic path pursuing a degree in material physics from the University of...

Read More
Hayley Sutherland
Hayley Sutherland - Graduate Ag Research Spotlight

Hayley Sutherland has always loved taking care of animals. As a child, she adored her Alaskan...

Read More
Trees with fall colors around the pond at Martell Forest
Residents, Alumni Invited to Share Indiana Natural Resource, Spaces, Species Memories

Do you have a favorite place, species, landscape or natural phenomenon in Indiana? Share it with...

Read More