Archive of awards and recognition > 2007-2008

2009 Plant Science Banquet

Undergraduates, Rhodes, Ellis and Snodgrass Honored

May 28, 2009  - Undergraduate student accomplishments, scholarships and club activities in Plant Pathology and Horticulture & Crop Science were showcased at the Plant Science Banquet in Columbus.  Plant Health Management majors recognized at the banquet include (photo above, left to right): Racheal Pack, Amber Hoffstetter, Nick Weidenbenner, Jessica Schafer and Kara Riggs.  Awards were presented by Lanny Rhodes (far right).  Not pictured, Laura Bruner and Gabriel Ibanez.

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Lanny Rhodes was honored as Outstanding Faculty, as voted by the students of Horticulture & Crop Science and Plant Pathology.  Above left, Nick Weidenbenner (far left) presented a plaque to Rhodes.  A surprise gift - a bed and breakfast getaway -  was presented to Rhodes by Amber Hoffstetter on behalf of Plant Pathology's PHARM student organization.  Hoffstetter delivered a hearfelt tribute to Rhodes, a popular teacher who is highly regarded by students for his ability to teach, encourage and inspire.  Above, right photo, students gather to congratulate Rhodes.  Left to right: Sarah Ellis, Amber Hoffstetter, Rhodes, Racheal Pack, Kara Riggs and Jessica Schafer.

Also honored were David Snodgrass as Outstanding Staff (left photo above, standing right), who was presented a plaque by crop science student Tim McCormick. Snodgrass is the greenhouse coordinator for Horticulture & Crop Science and Plant Pathology.  Sarah Ellis (above right, standing far right) was honored as Outstanding Teaching Assistant, also voted by the students.  She was presented a plaque by Jessica Schafer.  Ellis was a teaching assistant for General Plant Pathology and instructor for Social Impact of Plant Diseases on Human Society.

Monica Lewandowski from Plant Pathology (far left) and Julie Hering from Horticulture and Crop Science were presented with flowers for their work in coordinating the event.  Special thanks also go to Dave Barker, faculty member from  Horticulture & Crop Science and advisor to the Crops & Soils Club who served as the banquet coordinator.  Nate Miller, Crops & Soils president, and club members prepared much of the BBQ dinner for the banquet. The banquet also included highlights from student organizations and a photo slide show.

May 13, 2009  - Laura Bruner, Plant Health Management Honors student, won a third place award in the Agricultural/Environmental Science division of the Denman Undegraduate Research Forum for her honors thesis,  "The study of Arabidopsis thaliana trichomes for source of chemical defense." Erich Grotewold, Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, is her thesis advisor. Bruner also won first place in the CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum, Environmental and Plant Sciences Division for her honors thesis project with Erich Grotewold (Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology).

Plant Science Banquet - Awards and Recogntion

Laura Bruner - Honors student (honors thesis advisor, Erich Grotewold, Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology); College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Top 10 Graduating Senior; first place, CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum, Environmental and Plant Sciences division; third place, Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, Agricultural/Environmental Sciences division; National FFA Star of Agriscience Award., 2008 A. J. Hoffmann Award.

Amber Hoffstetter - Entered the Honors program in 2008-2009 (honors thesis advisor, Lanny Rhodes); 2009-2010 Plant Protection Scholarship; 2009 A. J. Hoffman award; president-elect, Plant Health and Resource Management (PHARM) student organization; worked in Dr. Pierluigi (Enrico) Bonello's laboratory; 2009 summer internship, Willoway Nurseries.

Gabriel Ibanez - entered the Plant Health Management program in 2009; 2009-2010  Plant Protection Scholarship.

Racheal Pack - entered the Plant Health Management program in 2008; recipient of a full Land Grant scholarship and is currently working for Dr. Lanny Rhodes.

Kara Riggs - Honors student (honors thesis advisor, Terry Graham);  2009-2010 Plant Protection Scholarship; 2008 and 2009 A. J. Hoffmann award; University Undergraduate Research Scholarship; OARDC Director's Undergraduate Research Grant; Ohio Soybean Council Foundation scholarship; served as 2008-2009 PHARM president and treasurer-elect for 2009-2010 year; presented research poster at the 2008 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting.  This summer, Riggs will work as an intern in the Department of Plant Pathology with Madge and Terry Graham.

Jessica Schafer - 2008 A. J. Hoffmann award; CFAES Top 20 Graduating Senior; winter quarter study abroad in Uganda and Tanzania; worked in Dr. Dennis Lewandowski's laboratory.  After graduation in June, Schafer will enter the MS program at Purdue University.

Nick Weidenbenner - Honors student (honors thesis advisor, Pierluigi (Enrico) Bonello); 2008 A. J. Hoffmann award; William F. Helms Student Scholarship from the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (PPQ) $5000 scholarship and a work experience internship at the USDA APHIS PPQ office in Pickerington, Ohio.  After graduation, Weidenbenner will serve as a missionary with St. Paul's Outreach for a year, and then plans to pursue graduate school.

Winter 2008 - Kate Gearhart graduated with a BS in Agriculture/Plant Health Management Magna Cum Laude and is currently working for Anne Dorrance in the Department of Plant Pathology.  Gearhart is a 2008 A. J. Hoffman award recipient and was active in PHARM, Collegiate 4-H and OSU pep band.  She is past recipient of the Ohio Soybean Council Foundation scholarship, Plant Protection scholarship and numerous other awards.

Congratulations to Plant Health Management majors honored at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Annual Recognition Program, Columbus, May 7, 2009.

Laura Bruner (far left) was honored as a Top 10 CFAES Senior and Jessica Schafer was honored as a Top 20 CFAES Senior. After graduation in June, Bruner is getting married and moving to New Zealand where she will pursue an agriculture career.  Schafer was an intern in Dennis Lewandowski's laboratory and spent winter quarter on a study abroad trip to Uganda and Tanzania.  She will pursue an MS in plant pathology at Purdue University.

Kara Riggs was awarded a University Undergraduate Research Scholarship and an OARDC Director's Undergraduate Research Grant.  She is an Honors student engaged in research in Dr. Terry Graham's laboratory.

Nick Weidenennber, Plant Health Management Honors student, was selected to receive the William F. Helms Student Scholarship from the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (PPQ).  Weidenbenner received a $5000 scholarship and a work experience internship at the USDA APHIS PPQ office in Pickerington, Ohio.

December 2008 - Amanda J. Hayes B.S. Agriculture Magna Cum Laude with *Distinction in Plant Health Management (Honors thesis advisor, Dennis Lewandowski) *Distinction designates completion of an honors thesis research project.  Amanda accepts congratulations from President Gee (left).  Amanda decorated her cap with an image of a purple petunia with Tobacco mosaic virus symptoms, which was part of her honors research (AKA Amanda's sick plant).

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 Archive of awards and recognition > 2007-2008