Agricultural Economics Outstanding Seniors
The Agricultural Economics Department selected five students to receive the Department’s 2021 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. It is exciting to be reminded about the exceptional things our students are doing academically as well as serving their peers and communities,” Dr. Elizabeth Yeager, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and Director of Undergraduate Programs, said. “This group of students has been challenged as they faced virtual learning, changes in internships, and disruptions to their final three semesters at K-State. Despite that, they have thrived. 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:
MiKayla Deters, Sabetha, Kansas, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness with the international option and a secondary major in Global Food Systems Leadership. Deters has been involved with many activities on campus. She was a member of Blue Key Senior Honorary as the Director of Nationals and Scholarship, as well as being involved with Sigma Alpha Ag Sorority and National Agri-Marketing Association. She has completed internships with Cargill Animal Nutrition and John Deere. She accepted employment in Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Business in Olathe, Kansas as a Management Associate. Her career interests lie in pricing, merchandising, and strategic marketing. She plans to pursue a Masters of Agribusiness after several years in industry and eventually transition into running her own business and operating the family-farm.
“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be recognized by the agricultural economics department as an outstanding senior. Looking back on my experience at K-State, I know that the department has been instrumental in my development and boasting the best faculty and staff on campus. It’s truly been an amazing four years!” Deters said.
Rebecca Hernandez, Fort Worth, Texas, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in Agricultural Economics with a specialty in optimization and a minor in Statistics. Hernandez has started a two-year Technical Research Associate position at MIT Sloan School of Management. Hernandez intends to pursue a PhD in Economics in the future. She is a McNair Scholar and was actively engaged in research with Dr. Schwab throughout her time in our program.
“From the moment I stepped into the Ag Econ Department I felt at home. All the students, professors, and staff were always so welcoming and that made it easy for me to form relationships which have helped me to excel in my coursework. I used to joke that Waters Hall was my real home away from home and not my apartment because of how often I would be there in my free time. It truly is an honor to be selected as one of the Outstanding Seniors, because my passion for Agricultural Economics was planted and nourished under the guidance and influence of the Ag Econ Department and I am forever grateful,” Hernandez said.
Megan Hill, Home, Kansas completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness with a minor in Animal Science and Industry in December 2020. Hill was actively involved in the leadership of NAMA. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University with an anticipated graduation date of May 2022. In 2019, Hill held a dual internship with Merck Animal Health in Desoto, KS and the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor in Kansas City, MO.
“I am very honored to be selected by the agricultural economics department as one of the Outstanding Seniors. The faculty and staff in this department played a huge role in making my time as an undergraduate student at K-State a fulfilling experience. I look forward to continuing my academic career in this department by pursuing a master’s degree,” Hill said.
Dannell Kopp, Fairview, Kansas, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring Agricultural Economics with a pre- veterinary specialty and a minor in Animal Science and Industry. Kopp is a member of the College of Agriculture Ambassadors, Alpha of Clovia, and the Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness club. Following graduation, she began working with Drs. Ted Schroeder and Robert Larson to collect data for their cow-calf record keeping and data transfer app. In August, she will start her course work in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. Kopp’s goal after graduation is to return to a rural community in Kansas where she can practice veterinary medicine on production livestock animals.
“I truly appreciate being chosen for this distinguished honor. Majoring in Agricultural Economics with a Pre-Vet option was one of the best decisions I made during my undergraduate career,” Kopp said.
Amber Oerly, Boonville, Missouri, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in Agricultural Economics with a specialty in Policy. She was a transfer student from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. While at K-State, she has been a student researcher with Dr. Glynn Tonsor and completed an internship in Washington, D.C. for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Oerly has co-published articles including her most recent publication in 2020: “Traceability, Biosecurity and Health Management by U.S. Feedlot Operations – 2018 Survey Summary.” Following graduation, she will spend the summer in Denver, CO on an internship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in their beef sustainability research program. This fall Oerly will attend graduate school at K-State focusing on livestock economics and policy.
“I am extremely honored to be selected as an outstanding graduate in the agricultural economics department at Kansas state. Not only does the program have national recognition for research and extension work, the faculty also have a genuine desire to assist their students in becoming better scholars, professionals, and agriculturalists. I am certainly blessed that God led me to K-State for my undergraduate career,” Oerly said.
