Department News
Our students, faculty, and staff have been honored for their academic work as well as in some of their professional endeavors in advising, teaching, conducting research, publishing, graphic design, news and feature production in multiple media, information systems management, technology support, and printing and distributing educational materials.
- Lisa Moser will transition from her role in Communications Solutions to instructor with the Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications program.
- Nellie Hill-Sullins and graduate student Mia Reyes were two authors on a paper chosen as a finalist for Outstanding Paper at the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium in Irving, Texas.
- Katie Starzec, professor in agricultural and natural resources communications, was recognized as Professor of the Week at the February 23rd men's home basketball game.
- Katie Starzec is being promoted to associate professor with tenure, effective July 1.
- Jacob Klaudt, student news writer, and Kylie Schakel, marketing student for Communications Solutions, were nominated for Student Employee of the Year.
- Allison Arment was recognized as Student Employee of the Year.
- The Spring 2024 Agriculturist won the third-place award in the publication Division of the 2024 National Critique Contest.
- The 2024-2025 National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow officer team includes two K-State ANRC students: Jenna Fiscus, Vice President, and Rylee Coy, Communications Coordinator.
- The National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Chapter awards were presented at the Ag Media Summit, August 4-7, in Kansas City, Missouri. The K-State ACT Chapter received the Chapter Leadership Award. Additionally, the Fall 2023 Agriculturist was the 5th Place Magazine in the Publication Division of the 2024 National Critique Contest.
- Dr. Jonathan Ulmer was recognized as the Kansas Association of Career and Technical Education Post Secondary Educator of the Year at the K-ACTE Summer Conference on July 29.
- The Fall 2023 Agriculturist magazine won first place in the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association student-produced publication competition.
- Each spring semester, students and faculty vote on an outstanding senior for each program based on their academic achievement, work experiences, and campus involvement.
- This year’s Outstanding Senior in Agricultural Education is Elizabeth Sturgis. Originally from Joplin, Missouri, Elizabeth has worked with the Kansas Farm Bureau and both national and state FFA associations. Elizabeth actively participated in the Teach Ag Students of Kansas (TASK) Force, Blue Key Senior Honorary, and Agricultural Education Club. Elizabeth will be continuing her career at Girard High School, where she will be an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
- Kady Figge was selected as the Outstanding Senior in Agricultural Communications & Journalism. Kady has actively been involved and a leader with the ACJ Advancement Team, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and the Agriculturist Magazine. Kady has also completed internships with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and Syngenta.
- KaCee James, a doctoral student in curriculum and instruction, was recognized as one of 10 students for outstanding research presentations and scholarly work at the K-State Graduate Research, Arts, and Discovery (K-GRAD) forum held in March. KaCee’s research presentation was “A twenty-year comparison of traditionally and alternatively licensed school-based agricultural education teacher retention in Kansas.”
Faculty
- Jon Ulmer, Professor, recognized as a 2023 Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award.
Students
- Sydney Garrett, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, 2023 outstanding senior.
- Cyla Gardner, Agricultural Education, 2023 outstanding senior.
Students
- Katelyn Harbert, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, 2021 outstanding senior.
- John Kennedy, Agricultural Education, 2021 outstanding senior.
Competition Awards
- 1st place awarded to Fall 2020 Issue of Kansas State Agriculturist Magazine by National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.
- Grace Jacobson, Livestock Publications Council Travel Award Winner from K-State.
Clubs
- The Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow 2021 Chapter of the Year in Education and Social Event categories. Plus, Outstanding Chapter of the Year!
Faculty
- Jon Ulmer, Professor, recognized as the 2021 American Association for Agricultural Education North Central Region Distinguished Teacher Educator.
Competition Awards
- Agriculturist Magazine 1st place NAADA (National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association).
- Katelyn Harbert, Livestock Publications Council Forrest Bassford Award Winner from K-State.
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
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
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
- Shannon Washburn, professor, Agricultural Education, Commerce Bank Outstanding Teaching Award
- Brandie Disberger, instructor, Agricultural Education, Unclassified Employee of the Year
- 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