A Night of Recognition
Sixteen undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were recognized for their outstanding scholarship, leadership, research and community outreach during the inaugural 2024 CALS Awards on April 23 at the NC State University Club. Fifteen faculty were also honored for teaching and advising excellence.
“Every awardee has been supported and mentored and has collaborated with people who made these awards possible,” Dean Garey Fox said in his opening remarks, noting that the evening celebrated both the student award winners and their supporters.
Guest speaker Sana Siddiqui, an alumna of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, offered inspiration from a multifaceted career.
“Go for more than just a job title, and don’t be limited by your or others’ expectations,” said Siddiqui, who is a department advisory board member, author of Get 2 Know Raleigh, and the founder of 1eatz, which sells single-serve meal kits.
The awards ceremony supports a culture of recognition and appreciation, Fox said.
“We need to create a culture where everyone’s contributions are valued and celebrated. If we can accomplish this, then we can truly disrupt for good.”
CALS Student Award Recipients
Listed in the order of presentation:
| Award | Student Name | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher | Lisa Metzger Graduate student | Plant and Microbial Biology |
| Outstanding AGI Student | Chris Hieb AGI student | The Agricultural Institute |
| Change Maker Award | Taj Hewitt Junior | Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
| Molly Vanhoy Graduate student | Microbiology | |
| Outstanding Leadership | Maggie Anthony Senior | Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences |
| Lauren Anderson Graduate student | Animal Science | |
| Outstanding Scholar | Autumn Sylvestri Senior | Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
| Ethan Renfro Senior | Animal Science | |
| Mohammad (Ali) Motlagh Graduate student | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | |
| Outstanding Student Researcher | Nora Sauers Senior | Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
| Eric Land Graduate student | Plant and Microbial Biology | |
| CALS Student Sustainability | Rosie Maloney Senior | Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
| Julia Cunniffe Graduate student | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | |
| Student of the Year | Anne Lindbergh Senior | Entomology and Plant Pathology |
| Shana McDowell Graduate student | Biological and Agricultural Engineering | |
| Student Organization Activity of the Year | Pre-Veterinary Medical Association | Animal Science |
| Student Organization of the Year | STEM Program to Reach Our Underrepresented Teens (SPROUTS) | Biological and Agricultural Engineering |
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