2020 Outstanding Senior Awards
The Agricultural Economics Department has selected four students to receive the Department’s Outstanding Senior Award. The award recognizes seniors in the Agricultural Economics Department for their significant contributions during their time at K-State.
“It is always a pleasure to recognize the outstanding seniors in our department. This year it was extremely difficult to choose just four students because we have so many doing exceptional things academically and serving their communities and world,” Dr. Elizabeth Yeager, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and Director of Undergraduate Programs, said. “This semester has been challenging for our students as they say good-bye to their time at K-State from a distance. We appreciate their resiliency, all of their contributions and wish them the best as they become alumni of the Department of Agricultural Economics.”
The following students were recipients of Agricultural Economics Outstanding Senior Award:
Sara Gammon, Drexel, Missouri, is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership with a minor in Statistics. Sara is a 2020 Truman Scholar, has studied abroad in Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and has interned internationally in India and Kenya. Sara completed an internship with Cargill Feed and Nutrition in Olathe, Kansas working on supply chain optimization, future contracts, and micro ingredients for feed production. She has also worked as an undergraduate research assistant and teaching assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics. She recently co-authored a publication in the Journal of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Sara will pursue a one-year Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge and a one-year Master of Science in Development Economics from SOAS University of London. Sara hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Development Studies and conduct research related to women’s economic empowerment.
“It's an honor to have been chosen as one of the Ag Econ Department's Outstanding Seniors. The Department has truly shaped me into the individual I am today, and I am grateful for the support and guidance I have been given over the past three years. Here, I have found my passion and have been set on a path to success,” Gammon said.
Jenna Goetzman, Gardner, Kansas, is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness and Global Food Systems Leadership. Jenna is a Student Fellow with the Center for Risk Management Education and Research. She completed the Cargill Fellows Program and a research project for Frontier Farm Credit. Jenna has interned with Merck Animal Health in Nebraska and created sales growth projections for her assigned territory from work with 10 veterinarian clinics, 55 cow/calf operations and feedlots. Jenna has also interned with John Deere in Olathe, Kansas. Jenna’s plans include working for an agricultural company doing sales and marketing.
“I am honored to be selected by the Agricultural Economics Department for the Outstanding Senior Award in Agribusiness this year. The faculty, staff and students truly make the College of Ag and Ag Econ department so unique and special to me. It’s been an amazing four years at K-State and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!” Goetzmann said.
Julia Maddock, Paola, Kansas, is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring Agricultural Economics with a specialty in Finance, minor in Statistics and a Certificate in Integrated Risk Management. Julia is a Student Fellow with the Center for Risk Management Education and Research and completed internships with Consolidated Grain and Barge in Tulsa, Oklahoma and ProAg Crop Insurance in Lenexa, Kansas. She has worked in the Department of Agricultural Economics analyzing and modeling data, assisting in learning management for freshman orientation classes, creating marketing and information graphics for department electronic displays and mailings, and using Microsoft Excel to create and maintain student records. Most recently, she has been assisting with research and analysis of the IHME COVID-19 model. Julia will be working for Cerner in Kansas City as a Business Analysis following graduation.
“I am honored to have been selected, and appreciative of the many opportunities I have been able to experience as a student within the department,” Maddock said.
Clara
Wicoff, Iola, Kansas, is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership with a minor in Entomology. She is a 2019 Truman Scholar and a 2020 Marshall Scholar. Clara has held internships with Cargill, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Food Safety and Lodging Program, United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Kansas State Legislature and Kansas State University. She has also studied abroad in India. Clara has served as Co-Director of the Catalyst self-development program at K-State where she spent a semester co-developing the curriculum before delivering it as part of the Blue Key Senior Honorary to approximately 90 freshman and sophomore students. Following graduation, Clara will be continuing her education in the United Kingdom. She is currently working with the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission to determine which university she will be attending in the fall.
“I am so grateful to have been a student in the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics for the past four years. The faculty and staff in this department are truly second to none. They have not only supported my academic growth as an undergraduate student, but have also empowered me to continue my education abroad after I graduate from K-State. The K-State Department of Agricultural Economics has a history of producing students who compete well in nationally competitive scholarships, which is a reflection of the incredible faculty, staff, and students who make up this department. I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of this amazing department's Outstanding Senior Award!” Wicoff said.
