A group of students and faculty members within Illinois State
University s Department of Agriculture were recently recognized for their
outstanding academic, research and teaching performance.
Megan Flesch, an animal science major from Warrenton, MO, received the top student honor. She was awarded the Holbert Award as the outstanding student in the Department of Agriculture. The award is based on overall academic achievement and service to the department and University. Flesch is a member of the Red Tassel Mortar Board and Golden Key honor societies and has been active in the CERES agriculture fraternity, the Alpha Zeta national agriculture academic fraternity, Agriculture Ambassadors and Equestrian Club.
The award for Outstanding Senior was given to Jenna Rozum, horticulture major from Pierron. Rozum is active in the University s Honors Program, the Horticulture Club and Alpha Zeta national agriculture honor society. She was previously awarded several departmental scholarships including the Harvey S. Woods Scholarship, the AEF James Martin Associate/Martin Family Scholarship and the ILCA Ian Stevenson Memorial Scholarship.
The award for Outstanding Junior was given to Jessica Brown, an agribusiness and animal science major from Morrisonville. Brown is active in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honor Society, Red Tassel Mortar Board honor society, the CERES agriculture fraternity, and the Alpha Zeta national agriculture academic fraternity.
The award for Outstanding Sophomore was given to Jack Fombelle, an agronomy major from Atwood. Fombelle is president of the Student Agriculture Association, active in the agriculture academic fraternity Alpha Zeta, and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
The Department of Agriculture also recognized Rob Rhykerd, associate professor of soil science, with the Department s Outstanding Teaching Award. Aslihan Spaulding, an assistant professor of agribusiness, and Rick Whitacre, a professor of agricultural economics, were given the Department of Agriculture Outstanding Service Award.
The awards were presented at the Department s 40th Annual Agriculture Awards Program on April 29. The event, sponsored by the University s Student Agriculture Association and the Agriculture Alumni Association, was held to recognize scholarship winners and student participants in a variety of inter-collegiate competitions, as well as outstanding faculty and students.
The student chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) was also recognized during the awards program. The Student Chapter advanced to the semi-final round in a national marketing competition held at the NAMA Annual Conference in Dallas, TX in April. The student team developed and presented a marketing plan for a product called Envirodek, a composite outdoor deck material made from distillers dry grain, a co-product of ethanol production. Team members are: Jessica Hanner, Elkhart; Alicia Gullidge, Moweaqua; Ashley Kabureck, Geneva; Emily Sullivan, Rushville; Tim Schmidgall, Mackinaw; Brian Toohill, Mt. Pulaski; Samantha Schafer, Jersyville; Tony Stirling, Martinton; and Duane Gieseke, Elkhart.
Print this page