Award Recipients

S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

College Awards

Each year the college recognizes several members who have gone above and beyond the norm to continue to make the college a place of increased quality and merit. We take great pride in recognizing excellence in many different areas of our academic and work lives together, including teaching and learning, mentoring and research, service and support.

Past Awards

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

College-wide Awards

Outstanding Team

This award recognizes a team of three or more individuals, the majority of whom are members of the college, who have played a highly impactful role in advancing one or more key aspects of the mission of the college. Assessment of nominations will include the level of impact made as well as the way the team functioned to work together to create positive outcomes where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

  • 2025: QCNR Academic Advising Center

Inclusive Excellence

This award recognizes a member of AGNR who has made significant contributions toward advancing the college’s values and goals toward inclusive excellence. This award is available to faculty, staff, or students.

  • 2025: Rory Eggleston

    

Outstanding Publication

The Outstanding Publication Award will be presented for one outstanding publication in each academic department in AGNR. Any article, book, or other published document with at least one author affiliated with a department in AGNR is eligible for consideration.

2025

  • ENVS: Jordan Smith, Jake Powell, Casey Trout, Nate Trauntvein, Wayne Freimund, Chris Monz, Chase Lamborn, Elizabeth Sodja, Rachel Hall, and Eunjung Yang, et al. “Utah Outdoor Recreation Strategic Plan.” https://recreation.utah.gov/planning/ 
  • WATS: Janice Brahney and Molly B. Blakowski, et al. , “Dust in the Critical Zone: North American case studies,” Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 258, 2024, 104942, ISSN 0012-8252,
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104942
  • WILD: Brice, Elaine M., Eric J. Larson, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNulty. 2024. The primacy of density-mediated indirect effects in a community of wolves, elk, and aspen. Ecological Monographse1627. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1627

Science Communication Award

This award recognizes the efforts of individuals to communicate complex science topics with a broad audience, who have worked to produce high-quality, engaging communication products in a variety of accessible forms. This award is available to faculty, staff, or students.

  • 2025: Scott Hotaling
 

 

Student Awards

Doctoral Student Researcher
Selection is based on quality of research effort, evidence of success (such as published papers, presentations, posters at professional meetings), and other unique activities related to research efforts. Prior recipients are not eligible.

  • 2025: Mitch Parsons
  • 2025: Cody Ratterman, PSC

Masters Student Researcher

Selection is based on quality of research effort, evidence of success (such as published papers, presentations, posters at professional meetings), and other unique activities related to research efforts. Prior recipients are not eligible.

  • 2025: Philip Saporito
  • 2025: Prakriti Nepal, PSC

Graduate Student Teacher of the Year

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate teaching assistant or graduate instructor (who served in this capacity at least one semester during the academic year). Prior recipients are not eligible. 

  • 2025: Noah Langenfeld, PSC
  • 2025: Casey Trout

Scholar of the Year

This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate scholarship. Other service and student activity involvement may become a consideration in the selection process, but the main emphasis is on academic success and scholarly achievement.

  • 2025: Eleanor Tenbrink
  • 2025: Mia Dustin, NDFS

Undergraduate Researcher

This award recognizes an undergraduate student who has consistently engaged in independent inquiry through courses, extracurricular engagement (e.g. employment, internships, volunteer activity), and/or independent research. Prior recipients are not eligible.

  • 2025: Paige Sargeant

Undergraduate Teaching Fellow

Each Year the AGNR selects an Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Fellow. This award is to recognize a student who shows extraordinary commitment to his/her fellow students as a UTF.

  • 2025: Luke Forsberg

Outstanding Senior

The AGNR Awards Committee selects the AGNR Outstanding Senior from the list of three students selected by the department faculty as departmental outstanding seniors.

  • 2025: Alexander Fielder, Luke Forsberg, Paige Sargeant

Jardine Juniper

The recipient of this award is selected by the AGNR Undergraduate Student Body to honor an outstanding graduating senior in the AGNR who has made the biggest impact on the College through involvement in clubs, organizations, and/or other college-related activities.

  • 2025: Stephen Bunnell

Legacy of Utah State

This award recognizes a student (undergraduate or graduate) who represents the "heart and soul of the University." Students should show a commitment to the institution and their program of study, as well as demonstrate internal involvement and service, department dedication, perseverance during times of adversity, and contribution behind the scenes.

  • 2025: Bailey Holdaway
  • 2025: Anavae Remetio, TDTE

Faculty Awards

Faculty Researcher of the Year

Annually, each of the academic colleges selects a Faculty Researcher of the Year, who is recognized for his or her accomplishments during Research Week. This award recognizes excellence in research, scholarship or creative activity over the past 3 years.

  • 2025: Matt Yost, PSC
  • 2025: Jordan Smith

Teacher of the Year

This award is based on teaching excellence. Provided is a list of all faculty who meet eligibility criteria (has taught at USU more than three years; with a teaching load of 6+ credits per year, including one undergraduate course; not a recipient previous five years).

  • 2025: Karin Kettenring
  • 2025: Lacee R. Boschetto, ASTE

Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year

This award emphasizes excellence in academic mentoring of undergraduate students and engagement outside the classroom, including as a faculty advisor, club advisor, or in other capacities. This is different from the Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. Recipients from the previous five years are not eligible.

  • 2025: Alyssa Reidhead, NDFS
  • 2025: Kezia Manlove

Faculty University Service Award
This award recognizes an AGNR faculty member for excellence in service to the operations and governance of the University. Recognized activities include service at the university, college, or department levels. Recipients from the previous five years are not eligible.
  • 2025: Sunshine Brosi

Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year
This award emphasizes excellence in academic mentoring of undergraduate students and engagement outside the classroom, including as a faculty advisor, club advisor, or in other capacities. This is different from the Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. Recipients from the previous five years are not eligible.
  • 2025: Mark Chynoweth
  • 2025: Katie Kraus, NDFS

Graduate Mentor of the Year
This award recognizes a significant record of cumulative accomplishment focused on graduate mentorship. This award recognizes a faculty member, including adjunct faculty, with a significant record of cumulative accomplishment focused on graduate student mentorship. Recipients from the previous five years are not eligible.
  • 2025: Kara Thornton-Kurth, ADVS
  • 2025: Tim Walsworth

Distinguished Professor of the Year
  • 2025: John Morrey, ADVS

[Ardeshir Zahedi] International Professor of the Year
  • 2025: Tyson J. Sorensen, ASTE

Early Career Faculty Researcher
  • 2025: Daniella Hirschfeld, LAEP

Early Career Teacher of the Year
  • 2025: Ryan Feuz, APEC

 

Staff Awards

Employee of the Year

Nominee must be 3/4 to full time, must have worked in AGNR at least 2 years, and cannot be faculty. Selection criteria include initiative, professional attitude, reliability, efficiency, motivation, quality/quantity of work, and cooperativeness with co-workers. Recipients from the previous five years are not eligible.

  • 2025: Leslie Gonzalez

Staff Researcher of the Year

This college award recognizes the contributions of our research staff, separate from the Employee of the Year award (for which they are also eligible).

  • 2025: Matteo Petit Bon

Outstanding Service to Students
  • 2025: Steve Barton, AVTE

Outstanding Service to Faculty
  • 2025: Mary Ann Anderson, LAEP

Outstanding Service to the College Award
  • 2025: Chenese Boyle, TDTE

 

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