Each year, Gamma Sigma Delta (GSD) hosts a special Celebration of Excellence at Penn State to recognize outstanding members of our community. Although we were unable to meet this year, we thought it more important than ever to offer this small recognition of excellence. We will host a meeting in the fall to recognize individuals in person.

This year we have a special award recognition from the international Gamma Sigma Delta organization. This organization recognizes faculty from all over the world for their excellence and contributions to the GSD global community. The 2019 Gamma Sigma Delta International Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award was awarded to our very own:

Dr. Catherine N. Cutter, Department of Food Science

In addition to this major achievement, each year we recognize 3 faculty members for their excellence in research, teaching and extension, respectively. The awards this year go to our following faculty members:

2020 GSD Outstanding Research Award:

Dr. Thomas L. Richard, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

2020 GSD Outstanding Teaching Award:

Dr. Megan Marshall, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

2020 GSD Outstanding Extension Award:

Dr. Kathleen Kelly, Department of Plant Science

Due to an unfortunate oversight last year, we did not recognize a 2019 GSD Outstanding Teaching Award. Therefore, the board would also like to recognize the 2019 GSD Outstanding Teaching Award recipient:

Dr. Margot Kaye, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management

In addition to our outstanding faculty members, each year GSD recognizes the top senior, junior, and sophomore students within the College of Agricultural Science. This year, these outstanding students are:

Senior

Kyle Kulp, Ag Business Management

Junior

Gillian Warner, Community, Environment, and Development

Sophomore

Madeline Musser, Ag Business Management

In addition to the student above, it is important to recognize that excellence should not single out only individuals. We have a number of extremely excellent student in the college of ag science. So, in addition to these 3, we would like to recognize all of the juniors and seniors that would have been inducted into GSD this spring.

Name

Standing

Maxwell Babinec

Senior

Marta Bakaj

Senior

Hayden Bock

Senior

Walker Britt

Senior

George DeMers

Senior

Xavier Fangmeyer

Senior

Hannah Flamme

Senior

Kelan Fogarty

Senior

Nicole Guise

Senior

Kaylee Kishbaugh

Senior

Nattanan Kultrailak

Senior

Kyle Kulp

Senior

Elise Laudenslager

Senior

Emily Lowry

Senior

Alia Mazzatosta

Senior

Keara Monaghan

Senior

Jared Pavlock

Senior

Hanna Rhoads

Senior

Jeremy Rigali

Senior

Lauren Shaffer

Senior

Kaylee Simon

Senior

Amy Sjoberg

Senior

Samantha Strong

Senior

Drew Walton

Senior

Rachael Wittmer

Senior

Gayatri Anil

Junior

Carlee Eifert

Junior

Lauren Faust

Junior

Audra Fisher

Junior

Julia Hamilton

Junior

Adryanna Jenkins

Junior

Laura Kramer

Junior

Rebecca Lee

Junior

Melissa Long

Junior

Chloe Roberts

Junior

Taran Rowles

Junior

Maria Schultheis

Junior

Gillian Warner

Junior

Aaron Wiedemer

Junior

 

Congratulations to all of our award recipients and new members. We look forward to being able to more fully show our appreciation for the way you uphold excellence in the fall.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tara Felix

Secretary/Treasurer, Penn State Chapter of GSD

On behalf of the GSD Leadership Team: Luke Laborde Past President, Daniel Foster President, Jonathan Campbell Vice President, Heather Preisendanz Historian