USU College of Science Recognizes Top Scholars of 2025

Utah State University’s College of Science hosted an awards ceremony and reception April 17 to recognize students, faculty and staff for outstanding achievements.

“We honor our students for their hard work and for their dedicated service,” said College of Science Dean Michelle Baker. “We also honor our faculty and staff for their mentorship of students, excellence in research, exemplary teaching, dedication in outreach and for their efforts in providing meaningful learning opportunities, especially during challenging times.”

Valedictorian for the college is Makenna Roberts. Mathematics and Statistics faculty member Brent Thomas will be Roberts’ faculty escort at university commencement and college convocation exercises.

The college’s Scholar of the Year is Seth Porter.

In addition to Roberts and Porter, the college’s Dean’s Scholars are Jacob Allen, Katie Bishop, Jeffrey Blotter, Tyler Bowden, Isabella DeJesus, Nicolas Holden, Olivia Larsen, Josh Lund, Sarah Moser, Audrey Mullen, Brian Riding, Noah Schade, Emma Sharp, Stockton Smith, Matthew Staten and Zachary Zito.

Michelle Norman was recognized as the college’s Peak Prize Undergraduate Researcher of the Year.

Erin Hamilton is the college’s Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year and Olivia Larsen was recognized as the college’s nominee for USU’s 2025 Legacy of Utah State Award.

College of Science Ambassadors Cameron Cottle, Ethan Fullmer, Kenzie Witherspoon, Avyrlie Smith, Ethan Weed, Owen Graham, Madelyn Peel, Olivia Larsen and Aubrey Bowers were recognized for their service to the college during the 2024-25 academic year.

Evan Anderson, who served as science senator for the 2024-25 academic year, was thanked and honored for his service. College of Science Student Council members were also recognized for their service: Isabella DeJesus, Dillon Johnson, Carlie Prinster, MaKenzie Long, Myriam Whiting, Rylei Mindrum, Dylan Kimmet, Kilia Brawand, Breanna Cahoon and Sami Sampson. Breanna Cahoon was recognized as the newly elected science senator for the 2025-26 academic year.

Nick Brimhall was honored as the college’s 2025 Goldwater Scholar nominee.

Janna Cook was recognized as the 2025 USU Career Design Intern of the Year.

Lauren Houstoun is the Graduate Student (MS) Researcher of the Year, and Dongyun Han is the college’s Graduate Student (PhD) Researcher of the Year.

Lyle Arnett is the college’s Graduate Student Teacher of the Year, and was the college’s nominee for a 2025 Robins Award. Callie Newson was recognized as an externally nominated candidate for the Robins Award.

Gary Tanner received the college’s 2025 Staff Excellence Award.

Eric Rowley was the college’s nominee for USU’s Cazier Lifetime Achievement Award.

John Edwards is the college’s Outstanding Graduate Mentor of the Year.

Aysel Erey was named Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year and Fabiane Mundim was recognized as the college’s Peak Prize Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year.

Faculty Teacher of the Year is Boyd Edwards, andthe college’s Faculty Researcher of the Year is Donald Penman.

Chad Mano was the college’s nominee for the Faculty University Service Award. Marion Murraywas recognized as USU Extension’s nominee for the Faculty University Service Award.

Eric Rowley was the college’s nominee for USU’s 2025 Cazier Lifetime Achievement Award.

Perpetual Motivator Award recipients for 2025 are Sara Weinstein (Faculty Category); Mitzi Christensen (Staff Category);and Calvin Luu, (Student Category). Nominees for the award were Jorge Cardoso, Kim Garrity, Zach Gompert, Jared Hileman, Ellen Imler, JanaLee Johnson, Karen Kapheim, Brian Kissmer, Mike Long, Mary McFadden, Lisa Poulsen, Maria Rodriguez, Kenzi Witherspoon, Ren Weinstock, Becky Williams and Nick Pardikes.

Traci Hillyard was named USU Employee of the Month for August 2024 by the USU Staff Employee Association.

Dan Coster and James Wheeler were honored for 35 years of service. David Kardelis and David Peak were recognized for 30 years of service.

Honored for25 years of service were Michelle Baker, T.C. Chang, Richard Cutler, Joe Shope, Jürgen Symanzik and Greg Wheeler.

David Brown, Carol Dehler, Genie Hanson, Brynja Kohler, James Pitts, Tammy Rittenour and John Stevens were recognized for 20 years of service.

Recognized for 15 years of service were Rob Davis, Susannah French, Nathan Geer, John Weber, Titus Yuan, Kevin Bower and Shane Brewer.

Alexis Ault, Joyce Chuon, Megan French, Karen Kapheim and Andreas Malmendier were honored for 10 years of service.

First-year faculty recognized at the ceremony were Alice Carter, Keilan Dascher-Cousineau, Terry Dial, Joshua Knobloch, John Lawson, Awen Li, Yungan (Frank) Qiu, Gary O’Brien, Alba Padilla-Rodriguez, John Russell, Yang Shi, Chris Smith and Derrick Vaughn.

Faculty and staff retiring from USU were recognized and thanked for their service: Ian Anderson, Richard Cutler, Brad Davidson, Alvan Hengge, Joe Koebbe, Karalee Ransom and Charlie Torre.

The College of Science includes the academic departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Geosciences and Physics.