Each year at the Spring Awards Convocation, we honor our graduating seniors with the Senior Merit Awards. Based on leadership, scholarship and service at the department, college and university level, the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Senior Merit Award is the highest award given to undergraduates by the College. Senior Merit Awards have been given by our college at this convocation for more than 50 years.
To be eligible for the award, students must be projected to graduate during the 2013 calendar year. Nominations are received from each major and the final selection of winners is made by the college scholarship committee. This year’s ceremony was held in the AgriLife Center on April 13, 2013. Congratulations to the Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology Awards Winners that are listed below.
(Click photo to enlarge – names in order from left to right)
Victoria Berkowitz is a Bioenvironmental Sciences major from Austin, TX. She has served as a Co-Chair and Counselor for Fish Camp, Vice President for the Kappa Delta Sorority and has held a number of mentor positions within Texas A&M niversity and the Bryan/College Station community. Victoria will graduate in December and hopes to attend medical school in order to become an oncologist.
Jesse Pyle is a Bioenvironmental Sciences major from Houston. He serves as the Departmental Representative on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council and was part of the Environmental Issues Committee of Texas A&M in 2010. Professionally, Jesse is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the American Society of Plant Biologists and a number of honor societies. He is an Undergraduate Research Fellow in the Scholthof Plant Virology Laboratory and has received Undergraduate Research Fellowship Grants from the American Society for Microbiology, Bioenvironmental Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholars and the American Society of Plant Biologists. Jesse will continue his education at Texas A&M University pursuing a Master’s in Plant Pathology and Microbiology with intentions of obtaining a Ph.D. and staying in academia studying the molecular aspects of animal virology.
Sarah Butler is a Bioenvironmental Sciences major from Robinson, TX. She is an Honors student who serves as President of the National Association of Environmental Professionals. She has worked as an undergraduate research assistant and participated in the ANRP program as a congressional intern in Washington D.C. She has received a number of university level awards for academics and her work has been recognized as an outstanding scholar in the environmental field. After she graduates in May, Sarah plans to attend law school to eventually practice environmental law.
Angelyn Hilton is studying Bioenvironmental Science and is from Kingwood, TX. She has represented the college and department as an undergraduate research scholar and delegate for a number of educational programs. Angelyn works for KAMU-FM as a writer and reporter for The Invisible Jungle Radio Program where she shares microbiology news through radio broadcast. In addition to her work as a Research Scholar, she also works as a Research Assistant. Angelyn will graduate in May and has plans to attend graduate school with a research focus in Plant Pathology and Microbiology.