Honoring the Best
Every day of your career in our College, your efforts have made a profound difference for our University community and broader community in Nevada, the region, and the world. Thank you for your hard work, resiliency, strength and sacrifice. Please know you have our admiration, appreciation and support.
This celebration provides us the opportunity to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our students, employees and supporters.
Each awardee has a unique story
We are proud of all of our honorees. Each has a unique story. Hear and celebrate them.
Denise Haynie
Outstanding Staff
Felisa Mandujano Torres
Extension Award of Excellence for Program Staff
Jolyn Wirshing
Outstanding Teacher
Kelley Stewart
Outstanding Researcher
Kim Higgins
Extension Award of Excellence for Administrative Faculty
Lindsay Chichester
Extension Award of Excellence for Academic Faculty
Michelle Davis
Extension Award of Excellence for Support Staff
Jeanne Chambers
Natural Resources & Environmental Science Leadership Award
Joe Dibble
Marsha Read Leadership Award in Nutrition & Dietetics
Photo by Lou Manna.
Jon Griggs
Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences Leadership Award
Photo by Dan Hottle.
Chef Mike Ty
Extension Award of Excellence for Supporters
Sharon Young
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Leadership Award
Anutr Sivakoses
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Spanish (Literature & Culture)
Jiavanna Wong-Fortunato
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Barnes
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth Reikowski
Natural Resources & Environmental Science
Everald McLennon
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences
Haley Toups
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Biochemistry
Juliet Wallis
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences
Maria Sole Bonarota
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences
Mary Brady
Natural Resources & Environmental Science
Simindokht Aliabadi
Nutrition
Steven Bristow
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences
by the Nevada Alumni Association
Yazmeen chose to attend the University not only for its beautiful campus but also because she heard of great experiences regarding our College's pre-veterinary program, and she wished to be a part of such a great community of students and professors. The University is also a great distance from her hometown — far enough to experience life on her own, but close enough to visit when she was feeling homesick.
Yazmeen said, "I have many favorite memories from my academic career, such as all the good weekends I’ve had with my friends, finding hobbies that I really enjoy, or the feeling after my classmates and I aced an exam that we studied so hard for.
However, my most favorite college memory is when I realized how much I loved to learn, especially when it came to animal science and medicine. This definitely allowed me to appreciate the world and knowledge in a different way, and makes me that much more excited to start my career."
Alex Vice
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Forest Management & Ecology
Alexa Lyons
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Rangeland Ecology & Management
Anjelica Borick
Nutrition | Dietetics
Anna Zoeters
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Environmental Science
Chloe Dodge
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Ecohydrology
Christine Shen
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and
Nutrition | Dietetics
Courtney Krause
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Agricultural Science
Dylan Pinatelli
Nutrition | Nutritional Science
Jake Rouse
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Agricultural Science
Kevin Beeman-Brown
Nutrition | Nutritional Science
Mattie Johns
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Rangeland Ecology & Management
Mira Newby
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Veterinary Science
Molly Willoughby
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Environmental Science
Nikki Zuber
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
Ruth Griggs, honorable mention
Natural Resources & Environmental Science | Environmental Science
Savanah Bloomquist
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Biotechnology
Yazmeen Ybarra
Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences | Veterinary Science
by the Nevada Latino Alumni Association
Originally from Mexico City, Mexico, Edurne migrated with her parents to Nevada when she was 1 year old. Growing up in Reno, she decided to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, as it would be close to her family. Thanks to scholarships from the Consulate of Mexico, Edurne was able to fund her education and eventually seek a master's degree in biotechnology. She decided to pursue a career in STEM because growing up, she often heard about the need for more Latino representation in science careers. Eventually, Edurne hopes to become an inspiration for other Latinos looking to pursue a career in STEM and she wants to continue to follow her dreams to become a fully recognized molecular biologist.
Currently, she plans to work in the industry to gain more hands-on experience. However, her ultimate goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in a biological science so that she can understand and apply biotechnology at a more fundamental level. She also plans to help stabilize her family economically and give back to her Latino community. She hopes to develop scholarships later on for other Latinos such as herself who have a passion for science.
Evelyn graduated with her bachelor's degree in biochemistry & molecular biology with minors in Spanish and addiction treatment services. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she worked at the Joe Crowley Student Union as an audiovisual technician and also at an undergraduate research lab.
Evelyn will attend Nevada to complete her master's in Spanish and then plans to attend medical school in the fall of 2022. Dedicated and driven, you're making us proud, Evelyn!
The College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources is a founding college of our land-grant University. We have a long and distinguished record of fulfilling the land-grant mission to provide teaching, research and outreach programs that grow the health and economic vitality of Nevada.
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