Twelve student-athletes from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for their academic excellence during the 2020-21 school year. In total, 85 Boilermakers earned the honor, setting a record for the university.
To qualify, awardees must achieve a grade-point average of 3.70 or better during the school year.
Hayley Bush, Cassidy Hardin and Ethan Smiley earned the award for the second time in 2021. Taylor Mortensen and Tessa Sheets are three-time recipients.
Hayley Bush
Agricultural Economics
Union, Kentucky
Volleyball
Emma Ellis
Animal Sciences
Charlotte, North Carolina
Volleyball
Brooks Royal
Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Fitzgerald, Georgia
Football
Ethan Smiley
Botany and Plant Pathology
Beech Grove, Indiana
Wrestling
Cassidy Hardin
Biochemistry
Bargersville, Indiana
Basketball
Megan Casey
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Mason, Ohio
Track and Field
Emma Tate
Botany and Plant Pathology
West Lafayette, Indiana
Track and Field
Taylor Mortensen
Animal Sciences
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Track and Field
Emma Keesling
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Modoc, Indiana
Track and Field
Tessa Sheets
Animal Sciences
Chatham County, North Carolina
Track and Field
Jackson Smeltz
Agricultural Economics
Lafayette, Indiana
Baseball
Kasey Wilhoit
Agronomy
Franklin, Indiana
Softball
