Alumni Awards
The Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Awards recognize individuals who have brought honor and recognition to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Awards will be presented yearly and more than one award may be given, if deemed appropriate.
A subcommittee of the CALS Dean's Advisory Board shall make the selection of recipients for the Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Awards.
2024 due date for nominations is Friday, Nov. 1. Nominations received after Nov. 1 will be held for next year.
- Nomination form | PDF |
- 2-3 letters of support
- Biographical sketch or resume
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Must be a graduate of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Must have a career in agriculture, family and consumer sciences or related field
- Must have a distinguished career and/or community service record with peer recognition
- May be retired or still active (suggested but not required — 20 years past first college graduation)
Alumni Achievement Award
- Must be a graduate of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Must have a career in agriculture, family and consumer sciences or related field
- Graduated within the past 15 years (preference, but not required)
- Must have made an exceptional career and/or community service record thus far, with indications of continued outstanding attainment in the future
Distinguished Associate Alumni Award
- Must have a distinguished career record
- Must be a strong supporter of the college over an extended period of time
Distinguished Retiree Award
- Must continue involvement in respective community and the University of Idaho
- Must enhance retirees’ image in the University of Idaho and public education
- Must be of such stature and accomplishment that students, faculty and staff of the UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will take pride in and be inspired by his/her recognition
- Must be a strong supporter of the college over an extended period of time
International Achievement Award
- Must have received a degree from the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences or be a friend of the college
- Must have distinguished him/herself in activities in a country other than the U.S. or in an international context
- Must be highly distinguished in his/her business, profession or life's work, either internationally or nationally in his or her country
- Must be of such stature and accomplishment that students, faculty and staff of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will take pride in and be inspired by his/her recognition
Early Career Achievement Award
- Must have received a degree from the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Have attained prominence through his/her efforts in agriculture, life sciences or other related areas of science, business, education or government and public service
- Must possess integrity, stature and demonstrated ability the merits the recognition of a proven leader in his/her chosen field
- Must be of such stature and accomplishment that students, faculty and staff of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will take pride in and be inspired by his/her recognition
- Alumni Achievement Award — Carrie Clarich ’06 BS Animal Science, ’12 MS Animal Science
- Distinguished Alumni Award — Joe Blackstock ’87 BS Ag Ed, ’93 MS Ag Ed & Karl Umiker ’00 MS Soil Science
- Distinguished Associate Alumni Award — Laura Wilder, Friend
- Distinguished Retiree Award — John Mundt ’67 BS Ag Ed, ’73 MS Ag Ed, ’89 PhD Ed Administration
- International Achievement – None awarded
- Dean’s Award – None awarded
- Early Career Achievement Award — Sammi Jo Sims ’17 BS Ag Ed
Alumni Achievement
- Surine Greenway, ’09 B.S. FCS, ’09 B.S. Spanish, ’13 M.S. AOLL
Distinguished Alumni
- Jim Miller, ’95 B.S. Ag Business
- Joey Peutz, ’92 B.S. FCS Ed, ’95 M.S. FCS
Distinguished Associate Alumni
- Doug Robison, Friend
Distinguished Retiree
- None awarded
International Achievement
- Gene Allen, ’61 B.S. Animal Husbandry
Dean’s Award
- None awarded
Early Career Achievement
- Patxi Larrocea-Phillips, ’15 B.S. Ag Econ, ’18 J.D.
Alumni Achievement
- Katherine Hunt Yahvah, ’08 B.S. FCS-Human Nutrition, ’12 Ph.D. Animal Physiology (Alturas Analytics)
- Nathan ’06 B.S. Animal Science and Kristi Brown ’05 B.S. Ag Education (W3 Livestock)
Distinguished Alumni
- Lee Bradshaw, ’89 B.S. Animal Science, ’93 M.S. Animal Science (Bradshaw Associates)
- Norm Ruhoff, ’83 B.S. Finance, ’88 M.S. Ag Economics (U of I, Ag Econ and Rural Sociology)
- Mark Kossler, ’78 B.S. Animal Science (Turner Enterprises)
Distinguished Associate Alumni
- Rick Naerebout, Friend (Idaho Dairymen’s Association)
Distinguished Retiree
- Rich Garber, Friend (Idaho Grain Producers Association)
International Achievement
- Harvey Neese, ’58 B.S. Animal Science, ’62 M.S. Animal Science (formerly U of I Postharvest Institute for Perishables)
Dean’s Award
- Mary Hasenoehrl, Friend
Early Career Achievement
- Katie Mosman Wilson, ’13 B.S. Ag Education, ’16 M.S. Education (formerly, Grangeville HS Ag Program)
Alumni Achievement
- Pat Dixon, B.S. Agricultural Education ‘05
Distinguished Alumni
- Sydel Samuels, B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences ‘01, Masters in Public Administration ‘10
Distinguished Associate
- Jim Little, Friend
Distinguished Retiree
- Professor Emeritus Carl Hunt, Department of Animal and Veterinary Science
International Achievement
- Lt. Col. Steve Schmidt, B.S. and M.S. Family and Consumer Sciences ‘99, '01
Early Career Achievement
- James Nasados, B.S. Agricultural Science, Communications and Leadership ‘16
Dean's Award
- Jane Wittmeyer, exceptional leadership in industry and dedication to CALS
Alumni Achievement
- Nicasio Usabel — ’07 B.S. Ag Ed, ’12 M. Ed
- Jacob Gisler — ’10 B.S. Ag Econ
Distinguished Alumni
- “Genesee” Joe Anderson — ’81 B.S. Ag Econ, Ag Engr
- Mauri Knott — ’02 B.S. Ag Science and Technology
- Mark Pavek — ’90 B.S. Ag Econ, ’94 B.S. Plant Sci, ’98 M.S. Plant Sci
- Ericka Rupp — ’00 B.S. FCS, ’02 M.S. FCS
Distinguished Associate Alumni
- Joe Stewart — Stewart Dairy
Distinguished Retiree
- Mary Lee Wood — University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development
Early Career Achievement
- Cameron Mulrony — ’03 B.S. Ag Ed
International Achievement
- Tom and Jo Ann Trail — ’58 B.S. Animal Sci (Tom)
Dean's Award
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Bill Flory — ’77 B.S. Finance
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Nick Blanksma — ’05 B.S. Agribusiness and Ag Systems Management
Alumni Achievement Award
- Buck Boyer — Culdesac, Idaho; ’02 B.S. Ag Economics. Employer: Boyer Farms
Distinguished Alumni Award
- Mike Leventini — Santa Rosa, California; ’89 M.S. Animal Science. Employer: Coleman Natural Foods, Perdue Chicken
- Ron Richard — Moscow, Idaho; ’83 B.S. Animal Science, Ag Education. Employer: University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Vandal Brand Meats
- Clark Seavert — Wilsonville, Oregon; ’89 M.S. Ag Economics. Employer: Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences
- Pat Whittington — Columbus, Ohio; ’92, ’93 M.S. Ag Education; ’97 Ph.D. Education. Employer: The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Distinguished Associate Alumni Award
- Pat Purdy — Boise, Idaho; ’86 B.S. Mechanical Engineering. Employer: Purdy Enterprises
Distinguished Retiree Award
- Jim DeShazer — Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Employer: Retired, Emeritus Department Head — UI Biological and Agricultural Engineering
International Achievement Award
- Richard Bowman — Moscow, Idaho; ’82 Animal Science. Employer: 1000 Hills Farm; Global Livestock Group, Inc.
Early Career Achievement Award
- Meghan Benscheidt — Seattle, Washington; ’05 B.S. Animal Science, ’14 M.S. Food Science. Employer: Darigold, Inc.