2023 Alexander Kende Academic Merit Award – Elisabeth Roadcap, Wenzdae Wendling
Elisabeth Roadcap and Wenzdae Wendling have been named the 2023 recipients of the Alexander Kende Academic Merit Award. Given in honor of former student Alexander Kende, the award provides a scholarship to a CALS junior with an interest in medicine or biomedical research, and has demonstrated exemplary character traits, leadership, and service to ̽̽ and the local community.
Roadcap is a junior undergraduate studying molecular genetics with a minor in health and society. Her academic achievements include acceptance to the National Science Foundation Research Experience Undergraduate (REU) One Health and the Environment program, a 10-week summer program held during 2022. She was one of ten students selected from a pool of 161 candidates. Roadcap conducted an epidemiological and laboratory-based study of Staphylococcus aureus from mastitis on Maine dairy farms. Her work culminated in an abstract submitted for consideration at the American Association of Extension Veterinarians 2022 symposium and a final presentation and paper.
University of Maine Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL) Director Anne Lichtenwalner, also the State of Maine Extension Veterinarian, was the faculty mentor for Roadcap during the summer REU program. Lichtenwalner stated, "Due to her interest in biomedical research and molecular diagnostics, we studied an ongoing outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) mastitis as detected in routine dairy milk samples cultured at the VDL. I can attest from working with her on an almost-daily basis for ten weeks that she is truly a delightful and dependable person with whom to work."
After her University of Maine REU project, she returned to ̽̽ to continue the work started in Maine. ̽̽ Animal and Veterinary Sciences Associate Professor John Barlow worked with Roadcap on her undergraduate research in his laboratory, where she started out volunteering for a research experience after her first year at ̽̽. Barlow stated, "Since 2010, I have written letters of recommendation for 82 students applying to veterinary school, with 70 of those students accepted and 69 currently in veterinary school or having graduated. At this stage in her academic career, I rank Elisabeth among the top six students in this elite group. Elisabeth is among the best of the best of the undergraduate students in our college."
Roadcap's current research focuses on a broader interest in public health, and her career aspiration is to become a genetic counselor. She hopes to apply the genetic laboratory techniques and research methods that she has learned to personalize patient disease prevention and treatment. About receiving the Kende award, Roadcap stated, "I'm honored to receive this award, and I'm grateful that it will support my academic and research efforts in my senior year."
Wenzdae Wendling is a junior animal science major on the pre-veterinary track. She grew up with animals and has a passion for training and riding horses, and her goal is to become a veterinarian. During her sophomore year at ̽̽, Wendling applied for early admission to the Tufts University College of Veterinary Medicine, a program that accepts a handful of top candidates from across the U.S. Wendling has been accepted and plans to attend starting in the fall 2024 semester.
Wendling is a high achieving student at ̽̽ who has gone beyond her major requirements to take many upper-level courses. She was accepted into the ̽̽ Horse Barn Cooperative, where students learn skills such as equine management, teamwork and leadership. It requires a large time commitment as well as a willingness to work with others to run the facility. Faculty overseeing the program said that Wendling leads by example in the cooperative and sets the standard of care at the highest level.
Animal and Veterinary Sciences Senior Lecturer Jenny Wilkinson first met Wendling in the Horse Barn Cooperative and had Wendling as a student in several equine courses. She said, "Wenzdae embodies the characteristics of Alexander Kende: high level of academic achievement, an avid interest in a career in the medical sciences, a rising potential in research and scholarship, a well-rounded service to our college and community, and dedication to working hard, being kind and inclusive, and upholding herself and others to the highest standards."
Wendling first met Animal and Veterinary Sciences Associate Professor Stephanie McKay when she took McKay's animal genetics course. Afterward, McKay became one of her academic advisors. Wendling joined McKay's lab during the spring 2022 semester and demonstrated a high level of initiative, leadership and interest in biomedical research while in the lab. The highly competitive and selective process of Wendling's early acceptance to veterinary school impressed McKay. "The impressive nature of this feet is a bit more telling when you see that the Tufts Class of 2025 had 1035 applicants and only 103 applicants were accepted. This is further evidence of Wenzdae's commitment to education, learning, medicine, and biomedical research,” McKay said.
Wendling is honored to receive the Kende award. She said, "I know I could never have made it this far in my academic career without the amazing support of all the CALS, and especially the Animal and Veterinary Science Department faculty. I am so excited to see where my last year at ̽̽ takes me!"
Lawrence K. Forcier Outstanding Senior Award – Lilah Krugman
Lilah Krugman has been named the 2023 recipient of the Lawrence K. Forcier Outstanding Senior Award. The award is given annually to one student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) graduating class for their academic excellence, character, and leadership abilities.
Krugman is a food systems major and has received honors including a Presidential Scholar, the Dean's List for all semesters, Honors College, a Presidential Leadership Fellow, and Food Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow. She is also dedicated to community-based research and food system change. An example of her dedication includes leading the ̽̽ Food Recovery Network, which recovers pre-packed meals from on-campus retail locations and distributes them to students for free.
CALS Research Associate and Lecturer Victor Izzo was Krugman's senior thesis advisor and academic mentor. He considers Krugman to perhaps be the most accomplished student that he has advised over the years, in a pool of very highly qualified students. He stated, "Lilah's approach to both her academic coursework and research have been more akin to a graduate student experience than an undergraduate journey. Throughout her time at ̽̽, Lilah has searched out opportunities to contribute to the overall well-being of the ̽̽ community and ways to support local/regional communities within Vermont."
Krugman first interacted with Plant and Soil Science Associate Professor Terry Bradshaw when she took a food policy and politics course, and he said that she stood out for her engagement, maturity, and dedication. Krugman's adeptness, curiosity, ability to synthesize complex topics and firm commitment to the public good was summed up in Bradshaw's statement, "Now at the end of her undergraduate career, Lilah competently, confidently, and respectfully exhibits that ability to listen, share, synthesize information, empathize, and take action that we hope our students—indeed our own selves—to be able to do to be the best and most engaged citizens possible."
Krugman reaction to the award was, "This award is so much more than a recognition of my achievements; it is a reflection of the strength and passion of the CALS community. I want to thank the friends I have made and the professors that taught me the tools necessary to be a community leader. Thank you to everyone!"
After graduation, Krugman will work with the Middlebury-based organization, the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN). She will be their programs and outreach coordinator, helping to facilitate their mission of strengthening the local agricultural economy in the Champlain Valley. ACORN Executive Director Lindsey Berk said that "Lilah continued to impress us with her maturity, self-initiative, dedication to the food sovereignty movement as well as her ability to offer thoughtful suggestions for improvements to our programs. Lilah was so impressive, in fact, that we have offered her a full-time position as a staff member once she graduates."
2023 CALS Outstanding Leadership and Engagement Award for Undergraduate Student of Color - Angelica Golbin (they/them)
Angelica Golbin is the recipient of this award, which recognizes a student of color enrolled in the ̽̽ College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and who has distinguished themselves through leadership and engagement in and/or outside of the classroom including participation in research, internships, student clubs, study abroad, or outstanding service to the community.
Golbin is a third-year CALS environmental sciences major with a minor in molecular genetics, and a member of the Honors College. Golbin worked with Department of Plant Biology Associate Professor Stephen Keller, who was their primary research mentor, on part of Keller's research, the "Introgression of adaptive gene variants into novel genomic backgrounds in the model tree Populus trichocarpa." Based on ideas they both developed, Golbin was awarded a fellowship with the CALS Life Science Leadership Program. This program recognizes and cultivates leadership among promising student researchers from underrepresented backgrounds that advance diversity in the life sciences.
Keller recommended Golbin for the leadership and engagement award. He stated, "Angelica is one of my academic advisees and is a student in my genetics course which they took during the fall 2021 semester. I have been delighted to observe Angelica’s growing confidence as both a scientific researcher and an emerging leader among their peers at ̽̽. I think they are very deserving of this award."
Golbin has been an active part of the ̽̽ Office of Sustainability's Eco-Reps community as a program manager. As an Eco-Reps team lead, they educated peers on sustainability through planning and hosting various events on campus throughout the academic year. Golbin also developed a "passion project" focused on promoting local food producers. They are a member of both the Asian and Black Student Unions at ̽̽.
"It means so much to be recognized for the hard work and dedication as a student of color and First-Gen,” stated Golbin after receiving the award. “This award is also a testament to the support that I've received from my research mentor Stephen Keller and the Eco-Reps coordinator Caylin McCamp, who have given me the opportunity to explore my interests in genomic research and environmental justice and make my voice heard in a PWI."
Senior High Academic Achiever – Sofie Toglia
Sofie Toglia is a senior majoring in animal sciences in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Among her many achievements at ̽̽, she is a STEM Ambassador, a teaching assistant for both the EQUUS program and a course in equine medicine and surgery. About her award, Toglia stated, “I am so grateful to the amazing faculty at ̽̽ who have helped me grow as a scientist and person over the past four years. The knowledge and skills I have gained will stick with me for life. I want to give a big thank you to my parents and friends for supporting me along the way.”
First-Year High Academic Achiever – Aditi Saleh
Aditi Saleh is completing her first year at ̽̽, majoring in molecular genetics. After receiving the award, Saleh said, "I felt very honored to receive this award from CALS and look forward to continue being a part of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics for the next three years, along with exploring any other areas that interest me."
Graduate Research Excellence Award - Hannah Lacasse (PhD)
Hannah Lacasse is part of the first cohort of the PhD in Sustainable Development, Policy, Economics and Governance (SDPEGS), in the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE). The program offers a transdisciplinary doctoral education in the policies, practices, and theories of sustainable development.
She is currently part of four active research teams: Kolodinsky Gund Catalyst grant; Kolodinsky USDA-NIFA Little Hemp grant; an Economic Research Service (ERS) Collaborative Agreement; Food Systems Research Center Plant-Protein Group. Lacasse also has five peer reviewed publications and a book chapter in a variety of outlets including industrial hemp, and has given nine refereed local, national, and international presentations internationally.
While pursuing a master's degree in CDAE, Lacasse's interest in hemp introduced her to work with the University of Kentucky, and to Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics Tyler Mark. He describes Lacasse as driven, inquisitive, engaging and a problem solver, and “her contributions have made her invaluable to their team because of her professionalism and leadership.”
̽̽ CDAE Professor Jane Kolodinsky, and advisor to Lacasse, said, "Hannah is one of the two best students I have had the opportunity to work with over my career which has spanned more than 30 years. Her capacity for learning new tools is almost unlimited. Her thirst for learning new tools is inspiring, and her promise is unlimited."
CDAE Associate Professor Travis Reynolds has worked with Lacasse in several roles over the past seven years, as professor, advisor, and supervisor as a summer research intern with the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. He stated, "I have witnessed first-hand Hannah’s extraordinary potential to undertake and publish high-quality research on diverse topics and working in collaboration with diverse teams in the U.S. and internationally. I genuinely believe Hannah has great potential to become an advanced scholar and leader in the fields of community and international development."
The Graduate Research Excellence Award recognizes graduate students who are excelling in research and scholarly accomplishments. These may include laboratory and field research and analysis, journal article publication, paper/poster/abstract presentations at conferences, thesis and dissertation research, and grant funding.