Honors & Awards

The Department of Plant Pathology congratulates those who have won both external and departmental awards and is thankful for the hard work and support of those who continue to allow the department to be successful and grow.

For information about the Elvin Charles Stakman Award, including past winners, see here. 

Departmental Awards

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Norman E. Borlaug Fellowship in International Agriculture - With Support From the Vaala-Henry Endowment

This is awarded to graduate students studying Plant Pathology with an emphasis in International Agriculture, who demonstrate academic merit and exceptional potential in their field of study, who, in accordance with Dr. Borlaug's wishes, are conducting research on a small grain cereal crop.

Learn more about this award and how you can support it. 

2021 Recipient: Nick Greatens

YearRecipient
2020None
2019None
2018Eric Nazareno
2017None
2016Zennah Kosgey
2015Feng Li
2014Anil Adnikari
2013Austin Case

Fred I. Frosheiser Scholarship

This scholarship was established in honor of former Professor F.I. Frosheiser to recognize full-time graduate students enrolled in the Department of Plant Pathology.

2023 Recipient: Pranaya Kaki

Past Recipients

YearRecipient
2022Sita Paudel
2021Robert Alvarez Quinto
2020Rebecca Hall
2019Eric Nazareno
2018Deepak Haarith
2017Andrew Sathoff
2016Austin Case
2015Sara Bratsch
2014Adil Essarioui
2013Michelle Grabowski
2012Dimitre Mollov
2011Jon Menke
2010Benjamin Held
2009Ji-Hyun Park
2008John Bienapfl
2007Ann Impulliti
2006Carmen Gavin Venegas
2005Ryan Blaedow
2000Alan Dyer
1999Rhoda L . Burrows
1998Warren Kruger
1997Tsitsi Ndowora
1996Akhilesh N. Misra

John Dueck Plant Pathology Fellowship

This fellowship was established in honor of John Dueck to recognize full-time graduate students enrolled in the Department of Plant Pathology.

2023 Recipient: Andrew Mann

Past Recipients

YearRecipients
2022Nick Rajtar
2021Savanna Lipps
2020Eric Nazareno
2019Cristina Toapanta
2018Feng Li
2017Lillian McGilp
2016Matthew Haas
2015Josh Kielsmeier-Cook
2014Sara Bratsch
2013Peng Zhou
2012Liangliang Gao

M.F. Kernkamp Scholarship

This fellowship was established in honor of former Professor and Head M.F. Kernkamp to recognize outstanding students of the Department of Plant Pathology at Minnesota. It is a cash award ($1,000), given only once to a specific recipient.

2023 Recipient: Davy Dekrey

Past Recipients

YearRecipient
2022Kristi Ledman
2021Yeidymar Sierra Moya
2020Nick Greatens
2019Liam Genter
2018Andrew Sathoff
2017Deepak Haarith
2016Jordan Briggs
2015Nick LeBlanc
2014Jordan Briggs
2013Sara Bratsch / Melanie Moore
2012None
2011Daniel Schlatter
2010Ryan Syverson
2009Gregory Reynolds
2008Pravin Gautam
2007Ben Alsop
2006Carlos Perez
2005Ed Quirin 
2000Silvia Pereyra
1999Consuelo Estevez de Jensen
1998Laszlo Gyenis
1997Silvia Penuela
1996J. Patrick Martinez

Ward C. Steinstra & Richard A. Meronuck Graduate Student Travel Award

This award was established by Professor Emeritus and Retired Extension Plant Pathologist. Dr. Ward C. Stienstra and Dr. Richard A. Meronuck, Extension Plant Pathologist to recognize outstanding graduate student research and to support student participation in professional scientific meetings. It is a cash award.

2023 Recipients: Molly Veregge, José E. Solórzano, Ji Hyun (Jay) Kim

Past Recipients

YearRecipients
2022

Sita Paudel, Jacob Botkin, Sofia Simeto, Nick Talmo, 

Rae Page, Andrew Mann, Kristi Ledman, Davy DeKrey, Pranaya Kaki

2021Jacob Botkin, Autin Lien, Sam Rude, Sofia Simeto
2020Robert Alvarez-Quinto, Savana Lipps, Jacob Botkin, Rebecca Hall, Rae Page
2019Pratibha Sharma / Nick Greatens / Becca Hall / Alissa Geske / Davy DeKrey / Rae Page
2018Feng Li / Lauren Jackson / Kristi Ledman / Eric Otto / Eric Nazareno
2017Garrett Beier/Mala Ganiger
2016Lillian Garber/ Deepak Rajendran/ Andrew Sathoff/ Kat Sweeney
2015Austin Case/ Matthew Haas / Josh Havill
2014Jordan Briggs / Laura Felice / Matthew Haas / Joshua-Kielsmeier-Cook
2013Benjamin Held / Laura Felice
2012Zane Grabau / Dimitre Mollov / Gretchen Freed / Nicholas Leblanc
2011Liangliang Gao / Lian Lian / Peng Zhou
2010Brett Arenz / Benjamin Held / Peng Zhou
2009Greg Reynolds / Matt Rouse / Liangliang Gao / Ji-Hyun Park
2008Matthew Bakker / Benjamin Held
2007Pravin Gautam / Haiyan Jia / Paul Meyer
2006Ryan Syverson / Ben Millett / Maya Hayslett
2005Brett Arenz / Pablo Olivera / Sharon Lewandowski / Carlos Perez
2004Jean Rowntree / Rubella Goswami
2003Matt Culler / Haiyan Jia / Maria Sanchez
2002Charles Barnes / Yohong Li
2001Shawn Bernick / Liz Wiggins
2000Karen Hilburn / Jason Smith

Carl & Johanna Eide Endowment

This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Carl and Johanna Eide to support outstanding students in the Department of Plant Pathology at Minnesota.

2023 Recipient: Nick Rajtar

Otto's research is focused on Heterobasidion root rot of pines, one of the most important pathogens of conifer forests in North America. He is exploring the distribution and elucidate the biology of Heterobasidion irregular, a new invasive pathogen in Minnesota with the goal of developing biological control strategies.

Past Recipients

YearRecipients
2022Davy DeKrey
2021Sofia Simeto Ferrari
2020Yeidymar Sierra - Moya
2019Kat Sweeney
2018None
2017Eric Otto
2016Feng Li
2015Garrett Beier
2014N/A
2013Laura Felice

Civil Service Award of Excellence

The Civil Service Award has been established to promote and recognize excellence in job performance among civil service personnel in the Department of Plant Pathology.

2023 Recipient: Beheshteh Zargaran

Past Recipients

YearRecipients
2022Chana Johnston/Crystal Langeberg
2021Grace Anderson
2020Jennifer Flynn
2019Susan Kingsbury / Kimon Karelis
2018Kristen Opitz / Matthew Martin
2017Todd Burnes / Beheshteh Zargaran
2016Grace Anderson / Dean Ziertman
2015Todd Busker / Tamas Szinyei
2014Roxanne Denny
2013Carol Anderson / Anne Lageson
2012Jennifer Flynn
2011Todd Burnes
2010Dimitre Mollov
2009Stephanie Dahl
2008Nancy Hamilton
2007Carol Anderson
2006Ann Arendt
2005Joel Jurgens
2004Todd Burnes
2003Benjamin Held
2002Jennifer Flor
2001Amar Elakkad / Mark Galatowitsch
2000Dann Adair / Gib Ahlstrand
1999Laurie Brand / Todd Burnes
1998Ann Arendt / Grace Bucher
1997All Civil Service Employees
1996John E. Haight / Leslie M. Johnson
1995None
1994None
1993Sandra L. Gould
1992Marguerite Clemens / Roxanne Denny
1991Elizabeth Ozmon / Connie Post
1990Andre Abad / Ann Arendt
1989Todd Burnes / Dann Adair
1988Patricia Burnes / Debra Baden Drange
1987Gib Ahlstrand

Professional & Academic Award of Excellence

The Professional and Academic Award has been established to promote and recognize excellence in job performance among P&A personnel in the Department of Plant Pathology.  

2023 Recipients: Annie Harvieux

Past Recipients

YearRecipients
2022Rebecca Curland: Professional, 
2021Grant Czadzeck: Professional, Ben Held: Scientific
2020Claudia Castell-Miller
2019None
2018Lindsey Otto-Hanson
2017Kristen Cooper
2016Benjamin Held
2015Lori Buboltz
2014None
2013Rebecca Curland
2012Lindsey Otto-Hanson
2011None
2010None
2009Yanhong Dong
2008Crystal Floyd
2007None
2006Jason Brantner
2005Steven Cannon

Distinguished Alumnus Award

The award is to recognize alumni who have achieved distinction in their profession and who have also made significant contributions to the welfare of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota.

2020 Recipient: Not given due to COVID-19

Past Recipients

YearRecipient
2019Rubella Goswami
2018Tarkus Segunda
2017Vergel Concibido/Nora Altier
2016Brad Mogen
2015Kathy Kromroy
2014Mohammed Boulif
2013None
2012Kira L. Bowen
2011Markus Andres
2010Robert Noyd
2009None
2008None
2007Barbara Christ
2006Phillip Berger
2005George Hudler
2004David Rizzo
2003Al Ellingboe
2002Paul Manion
2001Eugene Hayden
2000Mike Wingfield
1999Mary Palm
1998Dr. Bent Skovmand
1997Dr. Barry Jacobsen
1996None
1995None
1994Craig Grau
1993Carols M. Ochoa

Friend of the Department

This award recognizes persons who may not be alumni of the Department but who have made significant contributions to the welfare of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota.

2020 Recipients: Not given due to COVID-19

Past Recipients

YearRecipient
2019Dann Adair
2018Lieberman & Okinow Families
2017Alan Roelfs
2016Bob Munson
2015Don, Sandy and Drew Henry
2014Eugene Hayden
2013Mark Stennes
2012Elisabeth Kaplan
2011Larry J. Smith
2010None
2009Jerry Kruger
2008Carol VanWhy
2007Susan Tertell
2006Robin Hanks
2005Faye Kommedahl & Laura Weigrad
2004Kim Mogen & Brad Mogen
2003Tim Carver & Ann Bushnell
2002None
2001Tom Anderson
2000None
1999None
1998Elizabeth Ozman & Mark Stennes
1997John McCain & Barbara Anderson

Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor

Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor was created to recognize a faculty member who has had outstanding success in mentoring graduate students.

2023 Recipient: Becca Hall

2021 Recipient: Susan Kingsury

2020 Recipient: Ben Arenz