UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the agricultural honor society, recognized Penn State faculty and students during its annual meeting, which was held March 31.

“Each year, Gamma Sigma Delta hosts a special ‘Celebration of Excellence’ to recognize outstanding members of our community,” said Tara Felix, associate professor of animal science and beef extension specialist, and president of the Penn State chapter. “It was great to meet in person again this year.”

Faculty lauded for their exceptional contributions were Cristina Rosa, Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, 2022 Outstanding Research Award; Robert Crassweller, Department of Plant Science, 2022 Outstanding Extension Award; and William “Burt” Staniar, Department of Animal Science, 2022 Outstanding Teaching Award.

Undergraduate students also were recognized with Outstanding Student Awards, which are based on grade point average and class rank. This year’s recipients were Valeria Maria Calderone and Emily Rachel Nye, sophomore class; Logan Carbaugh, junior class; and Gayatri Anil and Jessica Marie Zabinsky, senior class.

The Student Research Expo Award recognizes exceptional graduate and undergraduate student research in 10 categories. This year’s Gamma Sigma Delta Student Research Expo featured 54 presented posters and 30 volunteer judges, with $6,000 awarded to winners.

The winners are as follows:

— Undergraduate Division, Animal-Related Systems: first place, Eamonn Powers; second place, Andrew Bucha; and third place, Hailey Reiss.

— Undergraduate Division, Entomology and Environmental-Related Systems: first place, Ritvik Prabhu; second place, Kayla Kimble; and third place, Ziming He.

— Undergraduate Division, Microbiology/Microbiome and Food-Related Systems: first place, Tyler Chandross-Cohen; second place, Anjali Sapre; and third place, Aaron Wiedemer.

— Undergraduate Division, Human Behavior and Social Systems: first place, Brandon Bixler.

— Undergraduate Division, Plant-Related Systems: first place, Christopher Pedone; second place Grant Hoffer; and third place, Ian Finn.

— Graduate Division, Biological Systems–Plant: first place, Lillian Germeroth; second place, Usman Ali; and third place, Ryan Spelman.

— Graduate Division, Entomology and Environmental-Related Systems: first place, Casey Cruse; second place, Sonu Koirala; and third place, Kaley Hallmark.

— Graduate Division, Microbiology/Microbiome and Food-Related Systems: first place, Laura Rolon; second place, Parisa Nazemi Ashani; and third place, Chelsea Newbold.

— Graduate Division, Human Behavior and Social Systems: first place, Jessica Myschisin; second place, Kendra Flood; and third place, Carson Letot.

— Graduate Division, Physical and Engineering Systems: first place, Camila Gonzalez-Arango; second place, Attia Iram; and third place, Julia Biertempfel.

Gamma Sigma Delta seeks to encourage high standards of scholarship and worthy achievements in all branches of the agricultural and related sciences anda high degree of excellence in the practice of agricultural pursuits. More information about the society is available at https://agsci.psu.edu/gsd.