Animal Sciences

Purdue Animal Sciences hosts its annual graduate student awards ceremony

Story by Katy Kinker
May 19, 2023

Purdue Animal Sciences hosted its annual graduate student awards ceremony on Thursday, May 11. Graduate students within the department were honored with the LOUJA Graduate Travel Awards, Book-Harmon Leadership Scholarship, Gerry W. Friars International Graduate Student Fellowship, and W.R. Featherston Awards.

The first awards given out were the LOUJA Graduate Travel Awards. The awards provide grants to graduate students who present outstanding research papers. The presentation must be based upon original research and excellence of presentation. The awardees are provided with travel funds to attend scientific meetings. These awards were established by Dr. Jake Krider, an Animal Sciences Department Head. He served as the head of the department from 1963 to 1971. These awards honor both Dr. Jake Krider and his wife, Louise Krider. Mrs. Krider passed away in 2000, and Dr. Krider passed away in 2005. The winners of the 2023 LOUJA Graduate Travel Awards are Xiyue (Cici) Chen, Madigan Snyder, Jung Sung, Esther Oluwagbenga, Paul Oladele, and Tanner Wise.

From left to right: Xiyue (Cici) Chen, Madigan Snyder, Jung Sung, Esther Oluwagbenga, Paul Oladele, Tanner Wise

The Book-Harmon Leadership Scholarship was established by two Purdue alumni: Bob Book and Bud Harmon. The scholarship honors their efforts to provide and promote leadership in the animal agriculture industry. The scholarship provides $1,000 to a graduate student that displays outstanding leadership skills and efforts. This year, Ruth Eunice Centeno Martinez received this scholarship.

Ruth Eunice Centeno Martinez accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty, Chair of the Graduate Program Committee at the Department of Animal Sciences.

The Gerry W. Friars International Graduate Student Fellowship was created to help alleviate the monetary stress of international students at Purdue University. Dr. Gerry Friars received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1961, while on leave from the Ontario Agricultural College. This institution is now known as the University of Guelph. From 1951 to 1985, he was involved in teaching and research in poultry and fish genetics and breeding. Then, until 1995, he was the Chief Scientist at the Atlantic Salmon Federation with a cross appointment at the University of New Brunswick. Because of his long association with graduate students, he cultivated an awareness of their financial needs. An annual award of $1,000 is awarded to an international M.S. or Ph.D. student studying quantitative poultry or fish genetics in the Department of Animal Sciences. This year, the award was given to Jung Sung.

Jung Sung accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty.

The W.R. Featherston Awards recognize the achievements of graduate students in the Animal Sciences Department. These awards were established to honor Professor W.R. Featherston’s leadership qualities and dedication to students. Professor Featherston was in the department from 1962 until 1980 when he passed away. The W.R. Featherston Awards include the Early Graduate Career Award, Graduate Teaching Award, Off-Campus Training Fellowship, Outstanding M.S. Award, and Outstanding Ph.D. Award.

The Featherston Early Graduate Career Award is given to a M.S. or Ph.D. student within his/her first two years of graduate study. The award was given to Esther Oluwagbenga. She received $650, a certificate of the award, and a plaque. Her name will also be added to the department’s permanent plaque.

Esther Oluwagbenga accepting the award from Dr. Machaty.

The Featherston Graduate Teaching Award recognizes the outstanding teaching of a graduate student within the Animal Sciences Department. Maha Abdelhaseib was honored with this award. She received $850, a certificate of the award, and a plaque. Her name will also be added to the department’s permanent plaque.

Maha Abdelhaseib accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty.

The Featherston Off-Campus Training Fellowship was established to provide financial support for a graduate student to attend a formal career development training program, organized workshop, or course off-campus. This year's recipient of the award was Xiyue (Cici) Chen. She received a check for the reimbursement of the expenses, a certificate of the award, and a plaque. Her name will also be added to the department’s permanent plaque.

Xiyue (Cici) Chen accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty.

The Featherston Outstanding M.S. Award recognizes an outstanding M.S. student within the department. The award was presented to Esther Oluwagbenga. She received $500, a certificate of the award, and a plaque. Her name will also be added to the department’s permanent plaque.

Esther Oluwagbenga accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty.

The Featherston Outstanding Ph.D. Award recognizes an outstanding Ph.D. student within the department. The award was given to Jingjuan (Candice) Chen. She received $1,000, a certificate of the award, and a plaque. Her name will also be added to the department’s permanent plaque.

Jingjuan (Candice) Chen accepting the award from Dr. Zoltan Machaty.

For more information on the recipients and previous winners, please click the button below.

Animal Sciences Graduate Student Awards

Featured Stories

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...

From the lab to veterinary school: Purdue Animal Sciences alumna builds on her passion for poultry

Alumna Isabella von Seggern is pursuing a veterinary degree with a focus on poultry.

Prototype forest growth model demonstrated for Peru application

The U.S. Forest Service invested decades of work and tens of millions of dollars to develop a...

A maple syrup producer looks out over his processing equipment.

Researchers Seek Maple Syrup Producer Feedback with New Survey

Researchers are working to scale up the green production of maple syrup in the Central Hardwood...

A man with glasses looks through a microscope in a laboratory, illuminated by contrasting blue and red lighting.

Fly’s eye opens window into important biological processes

The eyes are the window to the soul, according to an old saying. But Purdue University’s...

A young Geriann Albers holds a coyote pup; Albers holds a red-winged blackbird; Albers holds her Chase S. Osborn plaque.

Meet Geriann Albers: 2025 Chase S. Osborn Early Career Award Recipient

For her contributions to and impact on wildlife management in the state of Indiana, Geriann...