Twelve agriculture students named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars

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

Hayley Bush

Agricultural Economics

Union, Kentucky

Volleyball

Emma Ellis

Emma Ellis

Animal Sciences

Charlotte, North Carolina

Volleyball

Brooks Royal

Brooks Royal

Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Fitzgerald, Georgia

Football 

Ethan Smiley

Ethan Smiley

Botany and Plant Pathology

Beech Grove, Indiana

Wrestling

cassidyhardin1.jpg

Cassidy Hardin

Biochemistry

Bargersville, Indiana

Basketball 

Megan Casey

Megan Casey

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Mason, Ohio

Track and Field

Emma Tate

Emma Tate

Botany and Plant Pathology

West Lafayette, Indiana

Track and Field

1-mortensen1.jpg

Taylor Mortensen

Animal Sciences

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Track and Field 

keesling1.jpg

Emma Keesling

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Modoc, Indiana

Track and Field 

1-sheets1.jpg

Tessa Sheets

Animal Sciences

Chatham County, North Carolina

Track and Field

1-smeltz1.jpg

Jackson Smeltz

Agricultural Economics

Lafayette, Indiana

Baseball 

1-wilhoit1.jpg

Kasey Wilhoit

Agronomy

Franklin, Indiana

Softball

Featured Stories

Cow being tested with technology created with AgSEED grant.
AgSEED grants grow success

The average long-term return on the stock market is about 10 percent. For AgSEED, the Purdue...

Read More
Four adults talking at a table with healthy food
U.S. consumers report diet satisfaction patterns in latest Consumer Food Insights survey

The January Consumer Food Insights Report (CFI) sought to determine whether those classified as...

Read More
Conner Kesslar stands with friends at FFA convention
Preparing to teach the next generation

Growing up in LaGrange, Indiana, surrounded by small towns and strong agricultural roots, Conner...

Read More
Abigail Bothwell holds Purdue flag on study ab
A world of opportunity in Agricultural Economics

Growing up traveling the world, Abigail Bothwell always wanted to see how agriculture connects...

Read More
Abigail Bothwell holds Purdue flag on study ab
A world of opportunity in Agricultural Economics

Growing up traveling the world, Abigail Bothwell always wanted to see how agriculture connects...

Read More
Corn and wheat crops in a field with a blue sky in the background.
Purdue agronomy faculty members earn 2025 ACSESS Fellows

The Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) have acknowledged three...

Read More