2020 Gathering Held Virtually Due to Pandemic
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the International Honor Society of Agriculture, has honored outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni at its 2020 Awards and Initiation Ceremony.
Headquartered at the UT Institute of Agriculture, the Tennessee Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta recognizes leaders of Tennessee agriculture and exceptional students and faculty. The accolades included the Alumni Award for Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher, DVM, and the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award for retired UT Extension agent Buddy Sanders.
Thirty-nine students from either the Herbert College of Agriculture or the College of Veterinary Medicine were initiated into the society. The ceremony was held virtually on November 20 because of the pandemic. The complete list of award winners is below.
Herbert College of Agriculture
Freshman Award, Sneh Patel, Food Science
Sophomore Award, Taryn Harris, Animal Science
Junior Award, Garrett Franklin, Animal Science
Senior Award, Ashely Epstein, Wildlife & Fisheries Science
Masters Award, Jonathan Kubesch, Plant Sciences
PhD Award, Jessica Klabnik, Animal Science
College of Veterinary Medicine
First Year Award, McKenzie (Lindley) Kimbrough
Second Year Award, Brian GleavesThird Year Award, Sarah (Bell) Layne
Teaching Award, David Butler, Plant Sciences
Research Award, Phil Myer, Animal Science
Extension Award, Natalie Bumgarner, Plant Sciences
Team Award
Biomass Conversion Team:
Nikki Labbe, Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Nour Abdoulmoumine, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Alumni Award, Dr. Charles Hatcher – Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, E.W. (Buddy) Sanders
Initiates to the society include members of the UTIA faculty and staff as well as students:
UTIA Staff and Faculty (by department)
Sarah Moorey- Animal Science
Kyle McLean- Animal Science
Daniel Matthew- Animal Science
Katie Mason – Animal Science
Elizabeth Eckelkamp- Animal Science
Alicia Rihn – Agricultural and Resource Economics
Ricky Chen – Agricultural and Resource Economics
Students (alphabetical by department or major)
Agricultural and Resource Economics
Riley Denton
Tyler Georgeadis
Luis Vizcaya
Agriculture Leadership, Education and Communications
Catherine Martella
Animal Science
Thomas Beech
Benti Gelalcha
Kelly Melvin
Cassidy Price
Taylor Seay
Amanda Young
Caitlin Zaring
Animal Science, Pre-Vet
Caroline Downes
Kellie McCreight
Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences
Rounak Patra
Brea Sorrells
Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences/Plant, Soil and Environmental Science
Alexis Gilmore
Entomology and Plant Pathology
Rufus Akinrinlola
Trinity Hamm
Matthew Longmire
Food and Agriculture Business
Weston Box
Plant Sciences
Paolo Tagaloguin
Plant, Soil and Environmental Science
Devon Carrol
Dereck Corbin
Marcia Quinby
Veterinary Medicine
Haley Cremerius
Erin Duble
Ashley Goldacker
Sabrina Hall
Emily Kent
Elizabeth Molinet
Julia Mykins
Nicole Nanof
Seqouyah Pace
Sarah Smith
Robert Stilz
Jenna Sullivan
Haley Sutton
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Brittany Panos
Brianna Saylor
The 2020 officers of the Tennessee Chapter include associate professor of agricultural and resource economics Aaron Smith, president; assistant professor of plant sciences Virginia Sykes, secretary; UT Gardens horticulturalist Alice Clark, treasurer; UT Beef and Forage Center coordinator David McIntosh, strategic communications; and professor of plant sciences Annette Wszelaki, who served as awards committee chair.
Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.