UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the national agricultural honor society, recognized Penn State faculty and students during its annual meeting, which was held April 5.
“Gamma Sigma Delta’s annual Celebration of Excellence is a much-anticipated event in our college,” said Kevin Curry, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education, and president of the Penn State chapter. “It is the time we set aside to honor students and faculty for their exemplary work.”
Catherine Cutter, professor in the Department of Food Science and Penn State Extension assistant director for food safety and quality programs, received the 2023 Outstanding Research Award; Jonathan Campbell, associate professor of meat science in the Department of Animal Science, received the 2023 Outstanding Extension Award; and Elsa Sánchez, professor of horticultural systems management in the Department of Plant Science, received the 2023 Outstanding Teaching Award.
Undergraduate students were recognized with Outstanding Student Awards, which are based on grade point average and class rank. This year’s recipients were Molly Carson, of West Chester, sophomore class; Jacquelin Spring, of Doylestown, junior class; and Isabella Briseno, of Pilesgrove, New Jersey, senior class.
The Student Research Expo Award recognizes exceptional graduate and undergraduate student research in 13 categories. This year’s Gamma Sigma Delta Student Research Expo featured 93 posters, up from 54 last year, with 36 contributions from undergraduates and 57 from graduate students. Thirty-six volunteers from across the college served as judges, and a total of $7,500 was awarded to winners.
The winners were as follows:
— Undergraduate Division, Animal Systems: first place, Madison Bernisderfer; second place, Isabella Kruba; and third place, Madyson Dailey.
— Undergraduate Division, Environmental & Natural Resource Systems: first place, Vancie Peacock; second place, Ziming He; and third place, Bridget Reheard.
— Undergraduate Division, Food Systems: first place, Anna Sarubbi; second place, Leah Bodinger.
— Undergraduate Division, Human Behavior and Social Systems: first place, Laura Taraboletti; second place, Grace Shawver.
— Undergraduate Division, Plant Systems: first place, Charles Colvin; second place, Grant Hoffer; and third place, Quinn Loudy.
— Graduate Division, Animal Systems: first place, Alanna Staffin; second place, Mingyao Yang; and third place, Bailey Basiel.
— Graduate Division, Food Systems: first place, Cynthia Loi; second place, Soomee Hwang; and third place, Tykeesha Jefferson.
— Graduate Division, Human Behavior & Social Systems: first place, Arun Regmi; second place, Parmveer Singh; and third place, Carson Letot.
— Graduate Division, Microbiology and Microbiome Systems: first place, Tyler Chandross-Cohen; second place, Jaime Manzano Alvarez; and third place, Heather Hunt.
— Graduate Division, Physical Engineering Systems – Food: first place, Weiyun Hua; second place, Juan Arguijo.
— Graduate Division, Physical Engineering Systems – Plants: first place, Jaya Tripathi; second place, James Godwin; and third place, Kittiphum Pawikhum.
— Graduate Division, Plant Systems: first place, Ryan Spelman; second place, Casey Cruse; and third place, Sydney Ostlund.
Gamma Sigma Delta seeks to encourage high standards of scholarship and worthy achievements in all branches of the agricultural and related sciences as well as a high degree of excellence in the practice of agricultural pursuits. More information about the society is available at the Gamma Sigma Delta website.