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Communications and Agricultural Education

Communications and Agricultural Education

Kansas State University
1612 Claflin Road
301 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-3402

785-532-5804
785-532-5633 fax

Honors and Awards Archive

2017 Award Recipients

Clubs

    • The Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club earned several awards at the Agricultural Media Summit. They were named chapter of the year in the membership, leadership and community categories.  Topping the list of awards was being named the overall outstanding chapter. Audrey King is the adviser. 

Students

    • Topanga McBride won the 2017 Forrest Bassford Student award from the Livestock Publications Council. Three of the four finalists who received travel scholarships to attend the Ag Media Summit this year were from K-State. Jill Seiler and Taylor Matheny were the other two K-State finalists. 
    • Jackie Newland, won the Dr. Evans Presidential Scholarship from the American Agricultural Editors' Association. Newland and Audrey Schmitz were two of the four scholarship finalists.
    • The Agriculturist won first place for the Award of Excellence for publication in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow national contest.  Lisa Moser is the advisor. The students on the leadership team for the fall 2016 magazine are Melissa Grimmel Schaake, editor; Audrey Schmitz, associate editor; Lindsey Ashmore, assistant editor; and Marie Annexstad, advertising manager. 
    • Cassie Wandersee, 2016 Master graduate, was presented with this year’s outstanding thesis award for her paper, “An Audience Focused Approach to Framing Climate Change Communication in Agriculture”.
    • Katelyn Bohnenblust, Clay Center, received the 2017 Marjorie J. & Richard L.D. Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholarship from K-State Libraries. The $3,000 scholarship supports an undergraduate project involving community service and potentially impacting public policy.

Faculty

    • Elaine Johannes, Associate Professor, Family Studies and Human Service, Communicator of the Year

Professional Staff

    • Rick Butler, Graphic Designer, Employee of the Year, University Support Staff
    • Phylicia Mau, Graphic Designer, Employee of the Year, Unclassified

2016 Award Recipients 

Students

    • Andrea Mattas, Agricultural Education, 2016 outstanding senior
    • Brooke Harshaw, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, 2016 outstanding senior
    • Jennifer Ray, master's graduate '15, received the Outstanding Thesis award for "An Audience Focused Approach to Framing Climate Change Communication in Agriculture"
    • Jeremy D' Angelo, master's student, and Jason Ellis, associate professor, received the Outstanding Research Poster award for "A comparative Study of GM Diffusion Among Agricultural Undergraduate Students."
    • Cassie Wandersee, master's student, received the Outstand Thesis Proposal

Faculty

    • Lauri Baker, associate professor, Award of Excellence Academic Program, Association for Communication Excellence
    • Brandie Disberger, instructor, Agricultural Education, Unclassified Employee of the Year

Professional Staff 

    • Kristina Boone, professor and department head and Gloria Holcome, editor, $1,500 ACE professional development grant for Exploration of Digital Asset Management Systems
    • Gloria Holcombe, editor, Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences (ACE) Award of Excellence in the Publications and Graphic Design Learning Community
    • Phylicia Mau, graphic designer, and Carol Blocksome were part of a team that received a 2016 American Advertising Federation ADDY award for K-State Summer Campaign - Integrated Branded Content Campaign (smoke management flier)
    • Gloria Holcombe, editor; Megan Macy, marketing specialist; Brad Beckham, communications specialist; Bob Holcombe, graphic designer; Katie Allen, communications specialist; Dan Donnert, photographer and Ryan Barten received a bronze in the critique and awards competition, marketing communications campaign with budget of $1,000 or above category for Building for the Future, 2016 Annual Report
    • Rollin Mensch, printing coordinator, University Support Staff Employee of the Year, University Printing

2015 Award Recipients

Students

    • Logan Britton, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      2015 Outstanding senior for spring and fall
    • Kinzie Selke, Agricultural Education
      2015 Outstanding senior for spring and fall
    • Nicole Lane, senior, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, 2015 Forrest Bassford Award
    • Scott Stebner and Jessie Topp, graduate students, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      2015 Outstanding Research Poster, first runner up, Students' Perceptions of Undergraduate Research Experience
    • Jessie Topp, graduate student, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Outstanding Research Proposal by the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Life and Human Sciences Research Special Interest Group
    • Jennifer Ray, graduate student, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Outstanding Research Paper, Ask the Audience: Determining the Organization Identity of a State Agency

Faculty

    • Shannon Washburn, professor, Agricultural Education
      Commerce Bank Outstanding Teaching Award
    • Brandie Disberger, instructor, Agricultural Education, Unclassified Employee of the Year 

Professional Staff

    • Gloria Holcombe, editor, Communications and Agricultural Education
      2015 President's Award for Excellence for Unclassified Professionals in the area of team building, group activity, and service to the university award category
    • Women of distinction spring from K-State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering

2014 Award Recipients 

Students

    • Logan Britton, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      2014 Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Student Award winner
      American Agricultural Editors' Association/Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Past Presidents' Scholarship recipient
      American Agricultural Editors' Association marketing communications intern for the National FFA Organization
    • Casey Droddy, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      1st place, single item public relations with project for International Grains Program, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
    • Paige Druffel, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      One of three undergraduate students recognized for outstanding poster presentations at Undergraduate Research Showcase sponsored by Gamma Sigma Delta, for Agriculturists and Consumers’ Perceptions of Sustainability
    • Melissa Grimmel, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      2nd place, scenic photo, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
    • Kate Hagans, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      2nd place, radio package, Catastrophic Disease in the Livestock Industry, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
    • Alicia Hampton, Agricultural Education
      Selected as summer intern for K-State Research and Extension’s Wildcat District office
    • Brooke Harshaw, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      3rd place, undergraduate student oral presentation at 19th annual K-State Research Forum
    • Taneysha Howard, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Scholarship, Delta Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
      Winner of 2015 national theme contest at the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS) Career Fair and Training Conference
    • Briana Jacobus, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Elected national member relations coordinator, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
    • Maggie Seiler, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Elected national vice president, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
      3rd place, short feature story, From Cow to Consumption, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
    • Kinzie Selke, Agricultural Education
      One of 15 students selected from across the United States to receive $750 scholarship from National Association of Agricultural Educators
    • Katelyn Vincent, Agricultural Education
      One of 15 students selected from across the United States to receive $750 scholarship from National Association of Agricultural Educators

2014 College of Agriculture Students of the Month

    • Lacie Jacobs, Agricultural Education, January
    • Jordan Hildebrand, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, February
    • Jordan Pieschl, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, April

Faculty

    • Brandie Disberger, instructor, Agricultural Education
      College of Agriculture Faculty of the Semester
      2014 recipient of inaugural Professional Development Grant to participate in National Academic Advising Association's annual conference
    • Jason Ellis, associate professor, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
      Vance Publishing's "40 under 40" 2014 award list
    • Shannon Washburn, professor, Agricultural Education
      Elected to Faculty Senate

Professional Staff

    • Dan Donnert, Photographer, News Media Services
      Department of Communications and Agricultural Education Unclassified Employee of the Year
    • Mandy Wilson, Bookstore Manager
      Department of Communications and Agricultural Education University Support Staff Employee of the Year

2013 Award Recipients

Students

  • Logan Britton, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    2013 Royal Scholars by the American Royal Association
    2013 Forrest Bassford Student Award Finalist
  • Claire Carlson, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    2013 Forrest Bassford Student Award Finalist
    1st Place Blog, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
  • Lacie Darnell, Agricultural Education
    National Ambassador, National Teach Ag Campaign ambassador program
  • Casey Droddy, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    2013–2014 Agriculture Future of America leadership team
    Morgan Meyers Public Relations, American Ag Editors Internship
  • Kate Hagans, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    1st Place Animal Photo and Overall Excellence in Photography
    KDA Photo Contest Winner First Place, Rollin' in the Hay  “Wheat Waiting Aside the Coop”
  • Lisa Henderson, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    1st Place, Editorial Writing, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
    3rd Place, Long Feature Personality, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
  • Audrey Holderness, Cum Laude, College of Agriculture
  • Taneysha Howard, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    2nd Place in Public Speaking, National Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences 28th Annual Career Fair and Training Conference
  • Katie Manback, Agricultural Education
    Outstanding Senior
  • Nathaniel McGee, Cum Laude, College of Agriculture
  • Kaitlin Morgan, Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Animal Sciences and Industry
    Honorable Mention, Morris K. Udall Scholarship
  • Annelle Meals, Summa Cum Laude, College of Agriculture
  • Greg Peterson, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, KDA Photo Contest Winner First Place, Agriculture at Work “The Colors of Harvest”
  • Bethany Sanderson, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, Summa Cum Laude, College of Agriculture
  • Sara Schifferdecker, Agricultural Education
    Blue Key Honor Society
  • Kinzie Selke, Agricultural Education
    National Ambassador, National Teach Ag Campaign ambassador program
  • Amanda Spoo, Agricultural Communications and Journalism
    2nd Place, Long Feature Personality, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
    2nd Place, Long Feature Story, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
    2nd Place, Brochure/Pamphlet, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award
    Outstanding Senior
    Runner-up in 2013 NAADA annual report competition
  • Lana Swendson, Graduate Master's Student, Agricultural Education and Communications
    2013 Royal Scholars by the American Royal Association

Student Team Awards

  • Agriculturist, Runner-up in the 2013 NAADA magazine competition
  • 1st Place, Public Relations Single Item and Overall Excellence in Public Relations, Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow Nationals Award: Amanda Spoo, Casey Droddy and Jordan Hildebrand
  • 1st Place, Magazine and Overall Excellence in Publications, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow National Award: Sadee Rohleder, A.J. Lord, Robin Kleine, Mark Avilla, Laura Mushrush, Heather Oentrich, Greg Peterson, and Amanda Spoo

 

2013 College of Agriculture Students of the Month

Paige Druffel, Pullman, Wash., Agricultural Communications and Journalism, October

Congratulations, Kaitlin Morgan!

Kaitlin Morgan, sophomore in agricultural communications and journalism and animal science, was awarded an honorable mention for the 2013 Morris K. Udall Scholarship. Only 50 students in the country receive this honor. Kaitlin works in our department and is a College of Agriculture Ambassador and a member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. Well done, Kaitlin!

 

Faculty

  • Lauri Baker, 1st Runner-up, Outstanding Paper, 2013 Association for Communication Excellence
  • Jason Ellis, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teacher Fellow Award
  • Shannon Washburn, Outstanding Adviser, Gamma Sigma Delta, honor society of agriculture

Professional Staff

  • Dewayne Marcellus, University Printing
    Department of Communications and Agricultural Education Classified Employee of the Year
  • Nancy Zimmerli-Cates, Publishing
    Department of Communications and Agricultural Education Unclassified Employee of the Year

Team Awards

  • Association for Communication Excellence: 2013 Critique and Awards Program: Gold Award for Informational or Non-credit Educational Video Production, Debra Pryor, Pat Melgares, Jeff Wichman, Randall Kowalik, and Elaine Edwards. Click here to view the award-winning videos.

2012 Faculty, Professional Staff and Student Awards and Honors

Student

  • Garret LaRue, Department Student Employee of Year

Faculty

  • Lauri Baker, Tilford Scholar
  • Richard Baker, Tilford Scholar
  • Jason Ellis, Faculty of the Semester, College of Agriculture

Professional Staff

  • Russ Feldhausen, Department Unclassified Employee of the Year
  • Deb Pryor, Friend of Extension Master Gardener Award 
  • Deb Pryor, ACE Bronze Award, Promotional Productions
  • Tamie Staatz, Department Classified Employee of the Year
  • Vernon Turner, Coffman Leadership Institute Graduate

Team Awards

  • ACE Gold Award, Media Relations Campaign: Elaine Edwards and Pat Melgares
  • ACE Silver Award, Special Reports: Dan DonnertDavid Dunn, Amy HartmanGloria HolcombeBob HolcombePat MelgaresMary Lou Peter, Nancy Peterson, and Nancy Zimmerli-Cates
  • ACE Bronze Award, Writing for Newspapers: Dan DonnertElaine Edwards, and Pat Melgares
  • ACE Bronze Award, Posters: Dan Donnert, Janie DunstanElaine Edwards, and Pat Melgares 

Professional Staff

  • Doug Austin, Department Classified Employee of the Year
  • Mark Stadtlander, Department Unclassified Employee of the Year