UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brandon Bixler, a senior majoring in agricultural and extension education in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and a Schreyer Honors College Scholar, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Eric A. Walker Award.
The award is presented annually to the student who has contributed most to enhancing the reputation of the University through extracurricular activities. Walker was president of Penn State from 1956 to 1970.
Nominators called Bixler a talented, hardworking, professional student-educator who will inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders. They cited his dedication in and outside of the classroom.
As a state officer for the Pennsylvania FFA Association, Bixler assisted the organization in its mission to increase youth leadership through agriculture and education across Pennsylvania. In that post, nominators said, Bixler showed professionalism and dedication. He’s also a member of Penn State's Presidential Leadership Academy.
At Penn State, Bixler has served as the student caucus co-chair in the University Faculty Senate, teaching assistant in international agriculture, undergraduate intern for the Global Teach Ag Network, president of the Coaly Society, and an Ag Advocate in the College of Agricultural Sciences, among other roles.
Beyond that, he served as a grant review volunteer at the Lancaster County Community Foundation, food and nutrition volunteer at CrossNet Ministries, #teach ag ambassador for the National Association of Agricultural Educators, and a board member of Zawadi Fund International.
“Brandon is undoubtedly the most decorated undergraduate student I have had the opportunity to work with during my 10-year career as a teacher educator,” a nominator said. “His international travel, undergraduate research experiences, and service to his local community and the university are unparalleled. He goes above and beyond the call of duty because he is driven to be the best version of himself to make the world a better place. I count myself lucky to have had some impact on his journey to do great things.”