Michael Kuitu with Dr. David Baltensperger
Michael Kuitu received the Extension Program Specialist Award from David Baltensperger, Ph.D., professor and department head.

Congratulations to all our faculty, staff and students who received awards during the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences’ annual meeting held on Jan. 11 at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Turfgrass Research Facility in College Station.

Kevin McInnes, Ph.D., and David Stelly, Ph.D. were recognized for their years of service with the university. Stelly has been with the department for 40 years and McInnes has served for 35 years.

The department also presented 23 awards during the meeting, including:

Administrative/Extension Awards

  • B.B. Singh Administrative Staff Award: Beth McClosky
  • Administrative Support: Frances Mutscher

Extension Awards

  • Extension/Technical Staff Support-Field: Colby Bass
  • Extension/Technical Staff Support-Lab: Victor Rodriguez
  • Extension Faculty: Gary Pastushok
  • Extension Program Specialist: Michael Kuitu
  • Collaborating County Extension Agents Team: District 1: Scott Strawn, J.R. Sprague and Kristy Slough

Research Awards

  • B.B. Singh Award for Outstanding Research in Crop Science: Matthew Kutugata. Kutugata is a doctoral student in agronomy who is advised by Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Research-Agronomy: Sk. Musfiq-Us-Salehim. Salehim is a doctoral student in agronomy who is advised by Nithya Rajan, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Research-Plant Breeding: Ze Tian Fang. Fang is a doctoral student in molecular environmental plant science who is advised by Sakiko Okumoto, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Research-Soil Science: Chris Cobos. Cobos is a Ph.D. student in soil science who is co-advised by Katie Lewis, Ph.D., and Terry Gentry, Ph.D.
  • Postdoctoral Research: William Wheeler, Ph.D.
  • Research Support-Field Support: Daniel Hathcoat
  • Research Support-Lab Support: George Hodnett
  • Research and Extension Collaboration: Robert Vaughn
  • Research Faculty: Russell Jessup, Ph.D.

Special Service Recognitions

  • Special Service Recognition: Ted Fist, Specialty Sand; Aland Wittig, Wittig Grass Sales; and Todd Fisk, Mustang Caterpillar

Teaching Awards

  • Teaching Faculty: Youjun Deng, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Teaching: Sungkyu Park. Park is a doctoral student in agronomy who is advised by Scott Finlayson, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Awards

  • Undergraduate Student Support: Aenghus Denvior
Frances Mutscher standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Frances Mutscher
Beth McClosky standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Beth McClosky
Colby Bass
Gary Pastushok standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Gary Pastushok
Michael Kuitu standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Michael Kuitu
District 1 Team: J.R. Sprague,Scott Strawn and Kristy Slough standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
District 1 Team
Matthew Kutugata standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Matthew Kutugata
Sk. Musfiq-Us-Salehin standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Sk. Musfiq-Us-Salehin
Chris Cobos standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Chris Cobos
William Wheeler standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
William Wheeler, Ph.D.
Daniel Hathcoat standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Daniel Hathcoat
George Hodnett standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
George Hodnett
Robert Vaughn standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Robert Vaughn
Russell Jessup, Ph.D., standing with David Baltensperger, Ph.D., professor and department head.
Russell Jessup, Ph.D.
Ted Fist standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Ted Fist
Todd Fisk standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Todd Fisk
Sungkyu Park standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Sungkyu Park
Aenghus Denvior standing with David Baltensperger, professor and department head.
Aenghus Denvior