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
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
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2020 | None |
| 2019 | None |
| 2018 | Eric Nazareno |
| 2017 | None |
| 2016 | Zennah Kosgey |
| 2015 | Feng Li |
| 2014 | Anil Adnikari |
| 2013 | Austin 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.
2025 Recipient: Nisha Paneru Regmi
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Jay Kim |
| 2023 | Pranaya Kaki |
| 2022 | Sita Paudel |
| 2021 | Robert Alvarez Quinto |
| 2020 | Rebecca Hall |
| 2019 | Eric Nazareno |
| 2018 | Deepak Haarith |
| 2017 | Andrew Sathoff |
| 2016 | Austin Case |
| 2015 | Sara Bratsch |
| 2014 | Adil Essarioui |
| 2013 | Michelle Grabowski |
| 2012 | Dimitre Mollov |
| 2011 | Jon Menke |
| 2010 | Benjamin Held |
| 2009 | Ji-Hyun Park |
| 2008 | John Bienapfl |
| 2007 | Ann Impulliti |
| 2006 | Carmen Gavin Venegas |
| 2005 | Ryan Blaedow |
| 2000 | Alan Dyer |
| 1999 | Rhoda L . Burrows |
| 1998 | Warren Kruger |
| 1997 | Tsitsi Ndowora |
| 1996 | Akhilesh 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.
2025 Recipient: Nick Talmo
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Hsuan-Fu Wang |
| 2023 | Andrew Mann |
| 2022 | Nick Rajtar |
| 2021 | Savanna Lipps |
| 2020 | Eric Nazareno |
| 2019 | Cristina Toapanta |
| 2018 | Feng Li |
| 2017 | Lillian McGilp |
| 2016 | Matthew Haas |
| 2015 | Josh Kielsmeier-Cook |
| 2014 | Sara Bratsch |
| 2013 | Peng Zhou |
| 2012 | Liangliang 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.
2025 Recipient: José Solórzano
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Pranaya Kaki |
| 2023 | Davy Dekrey |
| 2022 | Kristi Ledman |
| 2021 | Yeidymar Sierra Moya |
| 2020 | Nick Greatens |
| 2019 | Liam Genter |
| 2018 | Andrew Sathoff |
| 2017 | Deepak Haarith |
| 2016 | Jordan Briggs |
| 2015 | Nick LeBlanc |
| 2014 | Jordan Briggs |
| 2013 | Sara Bratsch / Melanie Moore |
| 2012 | None |
| 2011 | Daniel Schlatter |
| 2010 | Ryan Syverson |
| 2009 | Gregory Reynolds |
| 2008 | Pravin Gautam |
| 2007 | Ben Alsop |
| 2006 | Carlos Perez |
| 2005 | Ed Quirin |
| 2000 | Silvia Pereyra |
| 1999 | Consuelo Estevez de Jensen |
| 1998 | Laszlo Gyenis |
| 1997 | Silvia Penuela |
| 1996 | J. 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.
2025 Recipients: Hunter Kluegel, Hsuan-Fu Wang, Connor Slawin, Molly Veregge, Ronan Keener, Joana Serrano Salgado.
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Alisha Hershman, Nisha Paneru Regmi, Alexis Shatrau, Sam Rude, Nick Talmo, Andrew Mann, José Solórzano |
| 2023 | Molly Veregge, José E. Solórzano, Ji Hyun (Jay) Kim |
| 2022 | Sita Paudel, Jacob Botkin, Sofia Simeto, Nick Talmo, Rae Page, Andrew Mann, Kristi Ledman, Davy DeKrey, Pranaya Kaki |
| 2021 | Jacob Botkin, Autin Lien, Sam Rude, Sofia Simeto |
| 2020 | Robert Alvarez-Quinto, Savana Lipps, Jacob Botkin, Rebecca Hall, Rae Page |
| 2019 | Pratibha Sharma / Nick Greatens / Becca Hall / Alissa Geske / Davy DeKrey / Rae Page |
| 2018 | Feng Li / Lauren Jackson / Kristi Ledman / Eric Otto / Eric Nazareno |
| 2017 | Garrett Beier/Mala Ganiger |
| 2016 | Lillian Garber/ Deepak Rajendran/ Andrew Sathoff/ Kat Sweeney |
| 2015 | Austin Case/ Matthew Haas / Josh Havill |
| 2014 | Jordan Briggs / Laura Felice / Matthew Haas / Joshua-Kielsmeier-Cook |
| 2013 | Benjamin Held / Laura Felice |
| 2012 | Zane Grabau / Dimitre Mollov / Gretchen Freed / Nicholas Leblanc |
| 2011 | Liangliang Gao / Lian Lian / Peng Zhou |
| 2010 | Brett Arenz / Benjamin Held / Peng Zhou |
| 2009 | Greg Reynolds / Matt Rouse / Liangliang Gao / Ji-Hyun Park |
| 2008 | Matthew Bakker / Benjamin Held |
| 2007 | Pravin Gautam / Haiyan Jia / Paul Meyer |
| 2006 | Ryan Syverson / Ben Millett / Maya Hayslett |
| 2005 | Brett Arenz / Pablo Olivera / Sharon Lewandowski / Carlos Perez |
| 2004 | Jean Rowntree / Rubella Goswami |
| 2003 | Matt Culler / Haiyan Jia / Maria Sanchez |
| 2002 | Charles Barnes / Yohong Li |
| 2001 | Shawn Bernick / Liz Wiggins |
| 2000 | Karen 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.
2025 Recipient: Ryan Franke
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Colin Peters |
| 2023 | Nick Rajtar |
| 2022 | Davy DeKrey |
| 2021 | Sofia Simeto Ferrari |
| 2020 | Yeidymar Sierra - Moya |
| 2019 | Kat Sweeney |
| 2018 | None |
| 2017 | Eric Otto |
| 2016 | Feng Li |
| 2015 | Garrett Beier |
| 2014 | N/A |
| 2013 | Laura 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.
2025 Recipient: Milo Chiu and Austin Lien
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Anita Jurevica and Diane Hennan |
| 2023 | Beheshteh Zargaran |
| 2022 | Chana Johnston/Crystal Langeberg |
| 2021 | Grace Anderson |
| 2020 | Jennifer Flynn |
| 2019 | Susan Kingsbury / Kimon Karelis |
| 2018 | Kristen Opitz / Matthew Martin |
| 2017 | Todd Burnes / Beheshteh Zargaran |
| 2016 | Grace Anderson / Dean Ziertman |
| 2015 | Todd Busker / Tamas Szinyei |
| 2014 | Roxanne Denny |
| 2013 | Carol Anderson / Anne Lageson |
| 2012 | Jennifer Flynn |
| 2011 | Todd Burnes |
| 2010 | Dimitre Mollov |
| 2009 | Stephanie Dahl |
| 2008 | Nancy Hamilton |
| 2007 | Carol Anderson |
| 2006 | Ann Arendt |
| 2005 | Joel Jurgens |
| 2004 | Todd Burnes |
| 2003 | Benjamin Held |
| 2002 | Jennifer Flor |
| 2001 | Amar Elakkad / Mark Galatowitsch |
| 2000 | Dann Adair / Gib Ahlstrand |
| 1999 | Laurie Brand / Todd Burnes |
| 1998 | Ann Arendt / Grace Bucher |
| 1997 | All Civil Service Employees |
| 1996 | John E. Haight / Leslie M. Johnson |
| 1995 | None |
| 1994 | None |
| 1993 | Sandra L. Gould |
| 1992 | Marguerite Clemens / Roxanne Denny |
| 1991 | Elizabeth Ozmon / Connie Post |
| 1990 | Andre Abad / Ann Arendt |
| 1989 | Todd Burnes / Dann Adair |
| 1988 | Patricia Burnes / Debra Baden Drange |
| 1987 | Gib 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.
2025 Recipients: Crystal Floyd
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Kathleen Markham |
| 2023 | Annie Harvieux |
| 2022 | Rebecca Curland: Professional, |
| 2021 | Grant Czadzeck: Professional, Ben Held: Scientific |
| 2020 | Claudia Castell-Miller |
| 2019 | None |
| 2018 | Lindsey Otto-Hanson |
| 2017 | Kristen Cooper |
| 2016 | Benjamin Held |
| 2015 | Lori Buboltz |
| 2014 | None |
| 2013 | Rebecca Curland |
| 2012 | Lindsey Otto-Hanson |
| 2011 | None |
| 2010 | None |
| 2009 | Yanhong Dong |
| 2008 | Crystal Floyd |
| 2007 | None |
| 2006 | Jason Brantner |
| 2005 | Steven Cannon |
Distinguished Alumni 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.
2025 Recipient: Dr. Carlos Alberto Pérez Rodríguez
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Rubella Goswami |
| 2018 | Tarkus Segunda |
| 2017 | Vergel Concibido/Nora Altier |
| 2016 | Brad Mogen |
| 2015 | Kathy Kromroy |
| 2014 | Mohammed Boulif |
| 2013 | None |
| 2012 | Kira L. Bowen |
| 2011 | Markus Andres |
| 2010 | Robert Noyd |
| 2009 | None |
| 2008 | None |
| 2007 | Barbara Christ |
| 2006 | Phillip Berger |
| 2005 | George Hudler |
| 2004 | David Rizzo |
| 2003 | Al Ellingboe |
| 2002 | Paul Manion |
| 2001 | Eugene Hayden |
| 2000 | Mike Wingfield |
| 1999 | Mary Palm |
| 1998 | Dr. Bent Skovmand |
| 1997 | Dr. Barry Jacobsen |
| 1996 | None |
| 1995 | None |
| 1994 | Craig Grau |
| 1993 | Carols 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.
2024 Recipients: Kathy Kromroy
Past Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2020 | None |
| 2019 | Dann Adair |
| 2018 | Lieberman & Okinow Families |
| 2017 | Alan Roelfs |
| 2016 | Bob Munson |
| 2015 | Don, Sandy and Drew Henry |
| 2014 | Eugene Hayden |
| 2013 | Mark Stennes |
| 2012 | Elisabeth Kaplan |
| 2011 | Larry J. Smith |
| 2010 | None |
| 2009 | Jerry Kruger |
| 2008 | Carol VanWhy |
| 2007 | Susan Tertell |
| 2006 | Robin Hanks |
| 2005 | Faye Kommedahl & Laura Weigrad |
| 2004 | Kim Mogen & Brad Mogen |
| 2003 | Tim Carver & Ann Bushnell |
| 2002 | None |
| 2001 | Tom Anderson |
| 2000 | None |
| 1999 | None |
| 1998 | Elizabeth Ozman & Mark Stennes |
| 1997 | John 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.
2025 Recipient: Robert Alvarez Quinto
2024 Recipient: Diane Hennan
2023 Recipient: Becca Hall
2021 Recipient: Susan Kingsury
2020 Recipient: Ben Arenz
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award was created to recognize and support undergraduate students who exemplify the positive characteristics valued by the Department of Plant Pathology.