Students, faculty and alumni honored at 2025 Ferguson College of Agriculture Scholarships and Awards banquet
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu
On April 3, 2025, the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture presented scholarships to more than 150 continuing students at the annual Scholarships and Awards Banquet.
The scholarships presented are part of the more than $1.8 million students receive from the Ferguson College and its academic departments for the 2025-26 academic year.
In addition to the scholarship recipients, 20 seniors were named Ferguson College Seniors of Distinction. Several faculty members were also recognized for their achievements in teaching, advising and student mentoring, and two Ferguson College alumni were recognized for success in their respective careers.
“The banquet is an opportunity to recognize students, faculty, alumni and friends of the college,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean of academic programs. “Their dedication, leadership and excellence continue to inspire our college community, and we are proud to honor them.”
Jared Stone was named the 2025 Louis and Betty Gardner Outstanding Senior. Stone is an agribusiness and animal science major with a minor in microbiology from Chandler, Oklahoma.
Of the 20 Seniors of Distinction, four were also honored with the Dean’s Award of Excellence (indicated by an *).
- Gunnar Aune – biosystems engineering, LaCrosse, Washington
- Katelin Bean – agricultural systems technology, Manteca, California
- Audrey Bishop – plant and soil sciences, Van Alstyne, Texas*
- Karstyn Cantrell – agricultural communications, Collinsville, Oklahoma
- Katie Dillon – agribusiness, Louisburg, Kansas*
- Cade Halbrook – plant and soil sciences, Morrilton, Arkansas
- Rebekah Harmon – horticulture, Waukomis, Oklahoma
- Cade Harris – animal science, Brock, Texas
- Sara Howard – agricultural communications and agribusiness, Headrick, Oklahoma*
- James Lee – biosystems engineering, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Emma Long – agricultural education, Jasper, Georgia
- Macie McPeak – agribusiness and plant and soil sciences, Ripon, California
- Blake Robbins – food science, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
- Paige Roberts – agribusiness, Garner, Iowa
- Mason Smith – agribusiness, Elk City, Oklahoma
- Hailey Spray – food science, Riverton, Wyoming*
- Jared Stone – animal science and agribusiness, Chandler, Oklahoma
- Elizabeth Struble – environmental science and plant and soil sciences, Owasso, Oklahoma
- Carson Westberg – animal science, Bend, Oregon
- Laura Wuebker – agricultural communications and agribusiness, Versailles, Ohio
Four Ferguson College faculty members were recognized for their commitment to teaching, advising and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. The recipients are:
- Julie LaBar, Early Career Excellence in Teaching Award – Environmental Science Undergraduate Program
- John Michael Riley, Excellence in Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring Award – Department of Agricultural Economics
- Omkar Joshi, Excellence in Graduate Advising and Mentoring Award – Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
- Robert Terry, Jr., Dick and Malinda Berry Fischer Award for Teaching Excellence – Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership
The Ferguson College Alumni Society Board recognized two alumni for their outstanding professional achievement and success with the Alumni Early Career Achievement Award. The recipients of this award are:
- Robby Branscum, animal science and agricultural education B.S., 2013, agricultural education Ph.D, 2024, agricultural education instructor for Stillwater Public Schools
- Halston Johnson, agricultural communications B.S., May 2013, and International Agriculture M.Ag, Dec. 2013, leader of marketing and operations for Panhandle Drones