USU College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences Recognizes Top Scholars of 2023-24

Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences hosted an awards reception to wrap up a great academic year and recognize students, faculty and staff for outstanding achievements.

“To our amazing students, you are the heart and soul of our college,” CAAS Dean Ken White said in his welcome remarks. “Even in this complex and sometimes daunting world, you give us such hope for the future. And to our award-winning faculty and staff, thank you for your dedication to teaching and mentoring your students, and your service to colleagues at USU and worldwide in your disciplines.”

This year’s six student award recipients in the college are:

• Scholar of the Year: Parker Rollins, Aviation Technology.

• Legacy of Utah State Award: Catherine Breitweiser, Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences (NDFS).

• Undergraduate Researcher of the Year: Nathan Pace,

• Master’s Student Researcher of the Year: Jesse Mathews, Plants, Soils and
• Climate (PSC).

• Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year: Mitchell Westmoreland,

• Graduate Student Teacher of the Year: Logan Haviland, Applied Economics (APEC).

• Also recognized for their achievements were the college’s 2024 Valedictorian, Megan Terry, NDFS, and CAAS Senator, Carlie Peterson-Wootan.

Faculty and staff award recipients’ achievements were highlighted in individual videos that may be viewed on the college’s website.

• CAAS University Service Award and this year’s Utah State University Faculty University Service Award recipient: Professor Kelly Kopp,

• Early Career Faculty Researcher of the Year: Assistant Professor Prateek Sharma,

• Faculty Researcher of the Year: Associate Professor Brent Chamberlain, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning.

• Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year: Associate Professor Mirella Meyer-Ficca, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences.

• Graduate Research Mentor of the Year: Professor Man-Keun Kim,

• Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year: Assistant Professor Karl Hoop,

• Early Career Teacher of the Year: Assistant Professor Rose Judd-Murray, Applied Sciences, Technology and Education.

• Teacher of the Year: Associate Professor Stacy Bevan,

• Distinguished Professor of the Year: Professor Dillon Feuz,

The North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit recipients are:

• Jim Arnold, Technology, Design and Technical Education (TDTE).
• Shawn Barstow, AVTE.
• Stacy Bevan, NDFS.
• Matt Bunnell, AVTE.
• Casey Coombs, NDFS.
• Benjamin George, LAEP.
• Rose Judd-Murray, ASTE.
• Cathleen Kovarik, ADVS.
• Julie Lamarra, TDTE.
• Ryan Larsen, APEC.
• Tanner McCarty, APEC.
• Chad Page,
• Lance Stott,

Two staff members were also honored. Caisa Shoop, academic adviser for students in ASTE and ADVS, received the Outstanding Service to Students Award. Tara Dawn (TD) Olsen from TDTE was honored with the Outstanding Service to Faculty Award.