2023-2024 Senior Awards

Jacob Golub is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Outstanding Senior Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management.  The Agricultural Technology Outstanding Senior Award is given to individuals who exhibit superb academic performance in addition to excellence outside the classroom during their time within the AT Program. 

Jacob is from Williamsburg, Virginia.  He is the current president of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Club.  Jacob is an AT Ambassador where he has been an advocate for the program at various events.  Jacob completed his AT Program internship at the prestigious Pinehurst No. 2 golf course.  He also works at the Pete Dye River Course during his time as a student at Virginia Tech.  Jacob has also competed in the 2023 and 2024 Turf Bowl for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Instructor Mr. Jon Dickerson stated, “Jacob has been a member of the turf club for three semesters now and is serving as its president currently. He runs meetings and helps make decisions for the club as well as represents us at conferences. Additionally, he has helped with open house, a board of visitor's lunch, as well as chaperoning his classmates to Pinehurst where he did an internship after he gave a presentation to them in class about this experience. During this volunteer effort, he drove us 7 hours to serve in this role. He is continually an asset in the classroom, constantly asking questions, helping his classmates and generally being a fantastic human.”

Megan Mallory is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Outstanding Senior Award winner for Applied Agriculture Management.  The Agricultural Technology Outstanding Senior Award is given to individuals who exhibit superb academic performance in addition to excellence outside the classroom during their time within the AT Program.

Megan Mallory is from Madison, Virginia.  Megan is a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, Collegiate Beef Leadership, and an Executive Team Member for the Block and Bridle Club.  In addition to her stellar academic performance, Megan is an AT Ambassador where she has promoted the AT Program at multiple events.  She has received the Virginia Hereford Association Academic, Bob Mesa Agricultural, Culpepper Soil and Water Conservation, Virginia Tucker Crigler 4-H, and Cynthia Johnson Scholarships.  She made the Dean’s List in Fall 2022 & Fall 2023. 

Megan completed her internship in Grahamsville, New York where she worked on a purebred Angus cow/calf operation.  Her responsibilities throughout her internship included: overseeing multiple herds, artificial insemination, embryo transfer work, halter breaking show cattle, maintained creep feeders, and checked mineral supplies. Megan was also a student-worker at Virginia Tech’s Kentland Dairy. 

Assistant Director and Senior Instructor Rachel Kohl stated, “I have had the pleasure of working with Megan Mallory as her instructor, advisor, as well as in her role as a TA for two of my classes. Megan is always polite, organized, and ready to assist with any task. I am proud of her accomplishments thus far and so excited to see what her future holds!”

Jackson Lohr is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Ut Prosim Award winner for Applied Agriculture Management.  Jackson has been an advocate of the AT Program since arriving on campus in the fall of 2022.  He has been a representative of the AT Program as well as a student-leader inside and outside of the classroom. 

Jackson is from Broadway, Virginia.  He has made the CALS Dean’s List.  Additionally, he has received the W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial, Locust Point, Virginia Poultry Federation, and Andrea Lohr Memorial Scholarships.  Jackson is a member of Colligate Young Farmers, Collegiate Beef Leadership, and has served as the State Vice President for Virginia FFA. 

Advanced Instructor Mr. Wesley Gwaltney noted, “Jackson is a great advocate.  I have overhead him explain the program to people unfamiliar and he states all the points we value; hands-on application, active labs, etc.  He spoke very well at the event in Suffolk.  I feel he truly values the program and takes advantage of the opportunities it affords him.” 

Rob Greigg is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Ut Prosim Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management.  Rob has been an advocate for the AT Program since arriving on campus in the fall of 2022.  He has been a representative of the AT Program as a student-leader inside and outside of the classroom. 

Rob is currently a petroleum supply specialist for the Army Reserves.  He has been in the Army Reserves the past two years and was active duty in the Army for 3 years.  Rob’s rank is an E-4 specialist.

Rob is form Martinsville, Virginia.  He has made the CALS Dean’s List, was awarded the Agricultural Technology Scholarship, and is the 2024 CAL Champion Award winner.  Rob is a member of the Turfgrass Club and competed in the 2024 Turf Bowl for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.  In addition to his duties as a student, Rob has served as a peer mentor for the first-year experience course where he mentored first-year students within the AT Program. 

Rob completed his internship at the Country Club of Virginia in Short Pump.  He served as a golf and grounds maintenance intern.  Rob also worked in golf course maintenance at the Blacksburg Country Club during his time as a student at Virginia Tech.  

Instructor Jon Dickerson stated, “Rob did a wonderful job on his internship and constantly surprises me with how much he understands about our industry. He is going to be a rockstar employee wherever he goes, and I love having him in class because of how thoughtful he can be both about the content we are learning but also about his classmates.”

Tyler Poole has been named the Agricultural Technology Outstanding Peer Mentor Award winner for 2024.  Peer mentors at Virginia Tech perform the dual role of advocate and resource agent as they assist first-year students as they make the transition to college. 

Tyler took the time to get to know his mentees and shared his passion for agriculture and Virginia Tech.  He followed through with issues his mentees were experiencing, and was willing to give good advice.  Tyler was always willing to listen, support, and give ideas to the younger students if efforts to make the experience better for everyone.

Tyler is from Chesterfield County, Virginia.  In addition to being a peer mentor, he also served as an AT Ambassador and volunteered at events such as the AT open house.  Tyler has made the Dean’s List and served on the Membership Committee for the Block and Bridle Club at Virginia Tech.  Apart from academics, he also works within the animal husbandry department at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Instructor Rose Jeter stated, “Tyler served as a great role model for our first-year students. I appreciated his caring approach and concern for his peers. He did a great job of connecting with his mentees and communicating with me.”

Laci Fleenor is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Rising Professional Award winner for Applied Agriculture Management.  The Rising Professional Award is given to students who have impressed us with the growth they have made within their intended industry during their time within the AT Program.

Laci is from Bristol, Virginia.  She a member of Block and Bridle, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, and the Fundraising Chair for the Beef Leadership Council.  Laci is additionally a peer mentor and an AT Ambassador for the AT Program.  She has received the Virginia Farm Bureau Scholarship, and has worked at the Virginia Tech Meat Lab throughout her time as a student.  Laci a completed her AT Program internship at the Virginia Tech Meat Lab where she learned how to harvest and fabricate beef, pork, and lamb. 

Assistant Director and Senior Instructor Rachel Kohl stated, “Laci Fleenor's professional growth over the last two years has been phenomenal! As her instructor and advisor, I have really enjoyed getting to know Laci and see her become more confident in her abilities. Laci has always been polite and hard-working, and I have loved getting to watch her excel in her work in meat science. She has gained knowledge and confidence in her ability that will only add to her family business' success.”

Forest Beegle is the 2024 Agricultural Technology Rising Professional Award winner for Landscape & Turf Management.  The Rising Professional Award is given to students who have impressed us with growth they have made within their intended industry during their time within the AT Program.

Forest is from Floyd County, Virginia and is involved in the Alpha Gamma Rho social-professional fraternity.  He is an AT Ambassador and a peer mentor for the AT Program.  Forest volunteered at events such as the AT open house and mentors first-year students within out first-year experience course.  He has earned the Farm Bureau Scholarship and competed in an academic landscaping competition in Utah. 

He competed his AT Program internship at GLS Landscaping in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.  Forest served as a crew leader where his responsibilities included: mowing, pruning, spraying herbicide, planting, mulching, stump grinding, excavation, hardscaping, power washing, sod installation, and installing signs. 

Instructor Rose Jeter stated, “Forest’s growth as a student and young professional has been fun to witness! When I first got to know Forest as a first semester student, he wasn’t sure that college was the right fit. However, he quickly adjusted and became involved in the larger community on campus. He has excelled as a peer mentor and has become a class leader. I can’t wait to see the positive impact he is going to have in the industry!”

Our Outstanding Intern Award for Applied Agriculture Management winner from the summer of 2023 is Jenna Cain.  This award gives recognition to a graduating student that stepped out of their “comfort zone” and excelled within their AT Program internship. 

Jenna completed her internship at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center where she worked within the Field Crop Agronomy Program.  During her internship, she researched cultural practices and identified varieties that enhance farm sustainability through increased productivity, production cost control, and reduction or elimination of environmental impact. 

Jenna is from Suffolk, Virginia and has made the Dean’s List during all of her semesters at Virginia Tech.  She has received the George R. Pulley Jr. Memorial, John Lee Pratt Research, Whaleyville Ruritan Club, and Holland Ruritan Club Scholarships. 

Advanced Instructor Wesley Gwaltney noted, “Jenna has been an excellent student from the start, but I have seen her develop a real interest in plant and soil sciences.  For a student who is not from an agricultural background, she is knowledgeable of the systems she has studied, displaying an understanding not achieved my many students who have a farm background.”

Our Outstanding Intern Award for Landscape & Turf Management winner from the summer of 2023 is Matthew Keyser.  This award give recognition to a graduating student that stepped out of their “comfort zone” and excelled within their AT Program internship.

Matthew completed his landscape grounds internship at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia.  During his internship, he designed/installed landscapes, flower beds, irrigation systems, installed sod, and learned how to operate multiple types of equipment during upkeep of the grounds. 

Matthew is from Bath County, Virginia and has made the Dean’s List every semester at Virginia Tech.  In addition to being a great student, Matthew has also worked at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech.  He is a member of the Turfgrass Club at Virginia Tech and competed in the Turf Bowl for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

 Instructor Mr. Jon Dickerson stated, “He did a fantastic job on his internship and in my interactions with him, he just continues to improve and impress me with his maturity and professionalism.

The Scholarly Achievement Award is presented to the student who earned the highest GPA in the 2024 Virginia Tech Agricultural Technology class.  Chloe Mathias always went above-and-beyond academically throughout her time over the past two years. 

Chloe is from New Market, Virginia.  In addition to her stellar GPA, Chloe is a member of Virginia Tech’s Young Farmers organization.  She has received the Locust Point Farm, W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial, Virginia FFA Foundation, CALS Mary Jane Neiman, and Virginia Crop Production Association Scholarships.  Chloe made the Dean’s List during the Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Fall 2023 semesters and was a CALS Dean’s Scholar for the Fall 2023 semester.

Agribusiness instructor Morgan Holder stated, “Chloe has a natural drive that propelled her to the top of this AT cohort.  She continuously submitted exemplary work, displayed an eagerness to learn, exhibited a high-degree of professionalism, and treated all members of the AT team with a great amount of respect over her two years within the program.  Chloe is a model AT student, and she has created an academic standard that will be hard to follow.  I know that she will be great at whatever path she chooses in life.”   

Brycen is from Glade Spring, Virginia and has made the Dean’s List for three semesters.  Other than the John Lee Pratt Research Scholarship, Brycen received the Virginia Produce Scholarship through the FFA and served as an AT Ambassador.  Additionally, he is a member of both the Young Farmers of Virginia Tech and the Beef Leadership Council. 

Advanced Instructor Wesley Gwaltney stated, ““I have really enjoyed mentoring Brycen through the Pratt undergraduate research project.  He has shown genuine interest throughout the project and has done great work in setting up the project and collecting, preparing, and analyzing data.  His practical experience has been an asset to the research.”

Jenna is from Suffolk, Virginia and has made the Dean’s List during all of her semesters at Virginia Tech.  She has received the George R. Pulley Jr. Memorial, John Lee Pratt Research, Whaleyville Ruritan Club, and Holland Ruritan Club Scholarships.  Advanced Instructor Wesley Gwaltney noted, “Jenna has been an excellent student from the start, but I have seen her develop a real interest in plant and soil sciences.  For a student who is not from an agricultural background, she is knowledgeable of the systems she has studied, displaying an understanding not achieved my many students who have a farm background.”