Twenty-four outstanding students named 2025 CFAES Distinguished Seniors

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Twenty-four students have been selected as 2025 Distinguished Seniors at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), the highest honor awarded to undergraduate students in the college.

The Distinguished Senior Award recognizes exceptional graduating seniors from CFAES who have demonstrated excellence in academics, research, leadership, and service throughout their time at Ohio State. Recipients are selected based on their ability to exemplify the CFAES mission and their impact both within the university and beyond.

“This award celebrates the incredible dedication and achievements of our students,” said Ann D. Christy, CFAES professor and associate dean for academic programs. “These 24 individuals have not only excelled in their studies, but have also made meaningful contributions to their communities, paving the way for their future success as leaders in our fields of food, agriculture, and the environment.”

The 2025 Distinguished Seniors represent a variety of disciplines across the college, showcasing the breadth of CFAES’ educational offerings.

Listed below are the Distinguished Seniors, including their academic units, majors, and hometowns:

Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership

• Elizabeth Fannin, Agricultural Communication, Jackson, Ohio
• Ashley Tate, Agricultural Communication, Shreve, Ohio
• Lillian Wagner, Agriscience Education, Marion, Ohio

Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

• Conner Smock, Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Botkins, Ohio

Department of Animal Sciences

• Molly Cordonnier, Animal Sciences-Animal Biosciences, Sullivan, Ohio
• Shelby Jones, Animal Sciences-Animal Biosciences, Milford Center, Ohio
• Jacob Lansing, Animal Sciences-Animal Biosciences, Midland, Ohio
• Tita Vandevoorde, Animal Sciences-Animal Biosciences, Dubai, UAE

Department of Entomology

• Michaela Liptak, Entomology, Brimfield, Ohio

Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

• Alexander Babinski, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering-Ecological Engineering, Westlake, Ohio
• Von Herron, Agricultural Systems Management, Salem, Ohio
• Isabel Reed, Construction Systems Management, Springfield, Ohio

Department of Food Science and Technology

• Megan Chludzinski, Food Science and Technology, Lisbon, Ohio
• Isabelle Kocz, Food Science and Technology, Clarence Center, New York
• Mira Smith, Food Science and Technology, Sylvania, Ohio

Department of Horticulture and Crop Science

• John Kohler, Sustainable Plant Systems-Agronomy, Wapakoneta, Ohio
• Sheriden Schuerman, Sustainable Plant Systems-Plant Biosciences, Pemberville, Ohio
• Renee Watson, Sustainable Plant Systems-Horticulture, Canton, Michigan

Department of Plant Pathology

• Kelsey Starr, Plant Pathology-Plant Microbiology, Cambridge, Ohio

School of Environment and Natural Resources

• Olivia DiGiovine, Environmental Policy and Decision Making-Environmental and Social Justice, Lewis Center, Ohio
• Olivia Marrero, Environmental Science (Honors), Massillon, Ohio
• Leah Palechka, Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability-Community Development, Brunswick, Ohio
• Ayden VanFossen, Natural Resource Management-Parks and Recreation, Columbus, Ohio
• Gavriel Steinman, Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability-Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis, Bexley, Ohio

The recipients will be honored at an invitation-only reception hosted by Christy and Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean, at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on April 3, at 5:30 p.m.

Their achievements will also be recognized through social media and professional networking platforms. A special video tribute will be released at 8 p.m. on April 3 on the Ohio State CFAES YouTube channel at go.osu.edu/CFAES2025DSA.

Learn more about CFAES academic programs at go.osu.edu/B4V2.