(Left to right) Assistant Professor of Dairy Processing Grace Lewis, Yihong Deng, CAFES Dean Michael Orth.

Students celebrate at CAFES Senior Supper

May 13, 2024 - For the 41st year, the Alumni Association of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls hosted a senior recognition event to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating seniors and to welcome them into the alumni family.
  
The Senior Supper featured the traditional series of three speakers. Speaking on behalf of the alumni was Heidi Doering, ‘88, biological IPM consultant and technical sale representative with Koppert USA. Doering advised the seniors to be curious, noting how the field she currently works in, was not in existence when she was at UWRF. 

The graduating seniors were represented by Emma Nackers, an animal science-companion animal major from Land O’Lakes.

“Most of my biggest milestones during my time here at UWRF have been a result of what I like to call, ‘sticking my nose in a potential opportunity’,” Nackers said. She encouraged her peers to find ways to “stick your nose in potential opportunities” because it could lead to a place you never imagined. 
 
The third speaker, on behalf of the faculty, was Brenda Boetel, agricultural economics professor, who encouraged the seniors to “keep calm and carry on” through all that is to come whether it be the need to learn new skills, allow for new ideas, getting through a financial setback, or failing and improving. 

In between the speakers, the students graduating with Laude honors, those who maintained a minimum 3.7 GPA for their entire college career, were recognized and presented with the red and white cords they wore at commencement. CAFES Dean Michael Orth took a few minutes to recognize all the seniors for participating in so many activities outside of the classroom and congratulated them for their resiliency when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the start of their college career.

Two seniors were honored with special awards. Yihong Deng, a senior in food science and technology from River Falls, was presented with the Dr. Earl Hildebrand Memorial Award which honors the graduating senior who best exemplifies a combination of scholastic achievement, extracurricular involvement and leadership roles in CAFES. Students are nominated by faculty and the recipient is selected by the CAFES Awards Committee. 

“Yihong’s capacity to conduct research while achieving success in her academics and retaining involvement in a variety of teams and clubs is truly remarkable,” the nomination letter said, calling out her combination of talents. Deng worked on a research project investigating biodegradable packaging material for food products, with support from the Dairy Innovation Hub. She presented the results of that work in poster format at five different events, as an oral presentation at another, and is finishing a draft manuscript. Deng also worked on smaller research projects, participated on intercollegiate evaluation teams, and in the Food Science Club.  She has accepted an offer from Cornell University and will be pursuing her Ph.D. in food science in the fall. 

The Seymour Junkman Award for the graduating senior in 2023-24 with the highest GPA went to Amanda Stone, a dairy science major from Larsen.  Stone graduated in December and is working at Olson Farms, Larsen. She was active in the Dairy Club and on the Dairy Judging Team during her time at UWRF.

Inset photo: Amanda Stone