The Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication is pleased to announce their Outstanding Students for 2025. Congratulations to the seven students selected for this honor.
FRESHMAN
Meghan Haws — Agricultural Communication
“The best part of being a Purdue student is how supported I am and how many opportunities I have to become a better student, person, and young professional. I think my major is important because communication is a powerful tool that everyone has access too, but not everyone is studying it. I love learning how to communicate agriculture in creative and strategic ways that benefit the world and those working in the industry.”
SOPHOMORE
Lilianne Trinkle — Agricultural Education
“The best part of being a Purdue student is meeting new people and growing academically. I have met so many amazing students, faculty, and staff who have encouraged me to grow as a better leader, friend, and overall student. The most beneficial thing my major offers is field experience opportunities. This has solidified my passion and helped me grow my teaching skills.”
JUNIOR
Lucas Lyons — Agricultural Education
“Agricultural Education fascinates me due to the rich cross-curricular and real-world experiences it offers to students. It has the potential to profoundly change lives, which is why I believe it is so vital in our world. The transformational environment fostered by the faculty, staff, students, and donors is truly unmatched and is my favorite aspect of being a Purdue student.”
SENIOR
Shelby Whitaker — Agricultural Communication
“I love the variety that Agricultural Communication provides. Students take classes and can work in everything from videography to writing, design to photography, public speaking, and so much more! I have been able to express all of my passions and interests through the ASEC department during my four years at Purdue.”
TRANSFER STUDENT
Mattie Satter — Agricultural Education
“The thing I find most interesting about my major is the hands-on experiences that I have had and knowing that, one day, I will get to share these with future students. I believe that learning hands-on is a different way for students to learn and offers an alternative for those who struggle with traditional learning.”
OUTSTANDING THESIS
Olivier Ntaganzwa — M.S., Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
“I hope that high school teachers, education administrators, and pre-college programs will use the conclusions and recommendations of my thesis to promote motivation and engagement in their lessons and educational programs. I also hope other researchers in engagement, motivation, and high school education will continue to study the role of the Situated Expectancy-Value Theory variables in driving motivation in high school students in the United States.”
OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION
Rob Weiner — Ph.D., Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
“I'm hopeful that this work will eventually inspire people to think more critically about the ways technology shapes their lives and personal interactions, and their interactions with institutions. I would like to build upon this research by working in policy or direct advocacy to understand more about the effects of emerging technologies on different stakeholders' sense of privacy and security, so we can better understand how to make policy that will balance these needs.”
