Purdue Animal Sciences honors its 2026 Outstanding Students and Distinguished Alumni

The Department of Animal Sciences hosted its inaugural Outstanding Students and Distinguished Alumni Awards Program, recognizing students and alumni for their achievements, leadership and contributions to the department and industry. In previous years, the department honored students and alumni separately.

The program included recognition of Outstanding Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior and Transfer Student award recipients, honoring current students for their academic achievement, leadership and impact within the department. Students may self-nominate, and recipients are selected by the Undergraduate Programs Committee.

The department also presented Distinguished Alumni awards in the Early Career, Mid-Career and Lifetime categories. Established in 2002, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes individuals for outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to their professions and society. Recipients are selected annually by a committee of Animal Sciences faculty members based on leadership, professional accomplishments and service outside of their careers.

Outstanding Freshman: Ava Miller

Ava Miller, of Bowie, Maryland, received the 2026 Outstanding Freshman Award. Additionally, she received the Outstanding Freshman award for the College of Agriculture.

Miller, who is studying pre-veterinary medicine in animal sciences, has quickly become involved across campus through academics, research and student organizations.

She works in the cryopreservation research group led by Li Zhan, PhD, contributing to work focused on preserving biological materials for future applications. 

Miller serves as chief of staff for the Purdue Black Student Union Freshman Action Team, helping lead initiatives that support first-year students and build community on campus. She is also a member of Purdue MANRRS and the Wildlife Society, and she serves on the student editorial board for the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research. 

She is pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and is passionate about bridging the gap between animal and human health.

Outstanding Sophomore: Regina Hoefer

Regina Hoefer, of Lafayette, Indiana, received the 2026 Outstanding Sophomore Award.

Hoefer, whose concentration in animal sciences is animal production and industry, began her studies at Purdue in fall 2024 and has since become actively involved across campus. On campus, she has been actively involved in the Poultry Club, serving as treasurer and a representative to the Ag Week Committee, and is also a member of the Purdue Meat Judging Team. 

She gained research experience and strengthened her interest in the meat industry through her participation in the Midwest Poultry Consortium Center of Excellence (COE) and its poultry production internship. 

Off campus, Hoefer is active in Hands and Feet of Christ through St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center and participates in the choir at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. 

She plans to pursue a career in the meat industry or continue her education following graduation in May 2027.

Outstanding Junior: Delaney Packard

Delaney Packard, of South Bend, Indiana, received the 2026 Outstanding Junior Award.

Packard, whose concentration in animal sciences is animal production and industry, developed an early interest in livestock despite not having a formal agricultural background growing up.

Through her experiences at Purdue, she found a sense of belonging within the animal sciences community. Her time in the classroom and lab helped shape her interests, leading her to discover a passion for meat processing. 

Packard now works at the Boilermaker Butcher Block, where she continues to build hands-on skills and industry knowledge.

In addition, she has taken on leadership roles across campus as safety officer for the Purdue Run Club, secretary for the Purdue Cattle Club and a teaching assistant for multiple animal sciences courses.

Outstanding Senior: Lillian Andis

Lillian Andis, of Springville, Indiana, received the 2026 Outstanding Senior Award. 

Andis, whose concentration is in biosciences, developed an early interest in animal health and agriculture while growing up on a small dairy goat farm. As a first-generation college student, she followed that passion to Purdue, where she became involved in undergraduate research across multiple laboratories and presented at Purdue Undergraduate Research Conferences.

These experiences, along with her involvement as a co-founder of HIRE (Helping Individuals Reach Excellence) and as an Animal Sciences Ambassador, shaped her goal of pursuing graduate school in animal nutrition. 

After graduating in May 2026, Andis plans to pursue a master’s degree focused on gut health and sustainable nutrition strategies in animal agriculture at Purdue.

Outstanding Transfer Student: Gwen Weaver

Gwen Weaver, of Hebron, Indiana, received the 2026 Outstanding Transfer Student Award.

Weaver, whose concentration in animal sciences is pre-veterinary medicine, transferred to Purdue in fall 2024 after beginning her collegiate career at Vincennes University.

While at Vincennes, she was a student-athlete on the track and field team while pursuing an associate degree in chemical sciences with a pre-veterinary concentration.

Weaver became actively involved at Purdue as a member of the Purdue Equestrian Hunt Seat Team, an Agriculture Transfer Mentor and a member of Alpha Zeta, the College of Agriculture honor society. 

Through hands-on coursework and research opportunities, Weaver has developed a passion for animal care and management.

After graduation, Weaver plans to attend the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and pursue a career as an equine veterinarian.

Early Career Alumni Award: Kate Borders

Kate Borders was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Early Career Alumna.

Growing up in Battle Creek, Michigan, surrounded by animals and influenced by her veterinarian parents, Borders developed an early interest in poultry. She graduated from Purdue University in 2015 and began her career in the poultry industry as a hatchery supervisor before joining Miller Poultry in 2018. 

Borders now is the animal well-being and compliance manager, where she ensures humane treatment and oversees third-party verification standards across production. In addition to her professional role, she has coordinated internships since 2022, helping introduce students to opportunities in poultry production. 

She lives near Lake Wawasee, Indiana, with Jorge Ledesma, their daughter, Elsie, and Jorge’s three older daughters, Melissa, Natalia and Daleyza.

Mid-Career Alumni Award: Daniel Wilson, DVM

Daniel Wilson, DVM, was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Mid-Career Alumnus.

Wilson received his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue in 2008 and his DVM from Purdue in 2012.

He is the founder and lead veterinarian of Wilson Vet Co., an independent poultry veterinary practice dedicated to commercial poultry health and production systems. 

Since founding the practice in 2017, it has grown to a team of six veterinarians serving producers across nearly 30 states, providing veterinary oversight for more than 100 million U.S. commercial egg layers. 

Wilson focuses on preventive medicine, biosecurity strategies and data-driven health management to support complex production systems. 

He currently lives in Needham, Indiana, with his wife, Erin, and their two children, Braeden and Josey.

Lifetime Alumni Award: Gretchen Myers Hill, PhD

Gretchen Myers Hill, PhD, was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Lifetime Alumna.

Hill earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, followed by her master’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue in 1966, where she studied under M.P. Plumlee, PhD, and was one of only three women in the graduate program at the time. 

She later earned her doctoral degree from Michigan State University and held faculty positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Missouri before returning to Michigan State University in the Department of Animal Science. 

Hill’s research focused on trace elements and their interactions at the cellular and animal level. She has been recognized for her teaching, leadership and service by the American Society of Animal Science, American Society of Nutrition and AAALAC International.

She is now a professor emerita in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University.