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.

2023

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.

2021

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.

2020

2017

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

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

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

2014

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

Students

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

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 Donnert, David Dunn, Amy Hartman, Gloria Holcombe, Bob Holcombe, Pat Melgares, Mary Lou Peter, Nancy Peterson, and Nancy Zimmerli-Cates
ACE Bronze Award, Writing for Newspapers: Dan Donnert, Elaine Edwards, and Pat Melgares
ACE Bronze Award, Posters: Dan Donnert, Janie Dunstan, Elaine Edwards, and Pat Melgares

Professional Staff

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