The Agricultural Technology Outstanding Senior Award is presented annually to a student who exemplifies all-around excellence. This year’s recipient, Robert (Rob) Starr, has not only achieved academic success but has also demonstrated exceptional leadership, a strong work ethic, and a motivating presence that left a lasting impression on the entire AT Program community.

Rob’s advisor and instructor, Jonathan Dickerson, shared:

“Rob was an absolute legend—both in the field during labs and in the classroom. He led engaging discussions with thought-provoking questions and demonstrated remarkable attention to detail. We all benefited from his real-world experiences, which he eagerly shared. I’m excited to see Rob develop into a top-notch turf professional.”

The Ut Prosim Award recognizes students who have made significant contributions to the Agricultural Technology Program and the broader Virginia Tech community through their time, actions, talents, and dedication—serving as role models for compassion, service, and leadership. Allison Bower has been selected as the 2025 recipient for the Applied Agricultural Management option.

Since arriving on campus in Fall 2023, Allison has been a passionate advocate for the Agricultural Technology Program. She has served as both an ambassador and a peer mentor for the first-year experience course, providing guidance and support to new students. In addition, she has maintained active membership and contributed service to multiple clubs across Virginia Tech.

Rachel Kohl, Assistant Director and Senior Instructor, shared:

“Allison has been a pleasure to work with as a student and advisee. She has taken every opportunity to be a representative of our program for prospective students, as well as a mentor for first-year students. I have no doubt she will be an asset to the agriculture industry!”

As mentioned above, the Ut Prosim Award recognizes students who have made meaningful contributions to both the program and the broader Virginia Tech community. Samuel Whitfield Coggin Jr. (“Whit”) exemplifies the spirit of this award and was selected as the honoree for the Landscape and Turf Management option.

Whit served as President of the Turfgrass Club at Virginia Tech and took on key leadership roles as both a program ambassador and a peer mentor for the first-year experience course. He also represented Virginia Tech at multiple landscape and turf competitions, consistently demonstrating his commitment to excellence and community.

Jonathan Dickerson, Whit’s turfgrass instructor and advisor, shared:

“It’s difficult to say whether Whit Coggin would bleed green or maroon and orange, given his devotion to both the turf industry and Virginia Tech. During his time in our program, he has consistently sought ways to represent both to a wide audience. His enthusiasm is infectious, inspiring everyone he meets to learn more about these two passions. I’m incredibly proud of Whit’s advocacy and can’t wait to see where it takes him.”

The Outstanding Peer Mentor Award is presented to students who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating excellence in mentoring. Remarkably, this year, the entire mentor team exemplified these qualities. From leading insightful group discussions and presenting timely, relevant topics to supporting and guiding new students, our 2024–25 Peer Mentors have been nothing short of outstanding. Their dedication has been inspiring, their efforts deeply appreciated, and we are proud to recognize the entire team for their exceptional service and commitment.

• Michael Bemis 
• Allison Bower
• Samuel Whitfield Coggin Jr.
• Trenton Johnson
• Logan Kellum
• Aiden Mueller
• Emily Sears
• Melody Simpson

The Rising Professional Award is presented to students who have demonstrated notable growth and development within their chosen industry during their time in the Agricultural Technology Program. Emily Sears has been selected as the 2025 recipient for the Applied Agricultural Management option.

Emily has excelled in leadership roles, including serving as an ambassador and peer mentor, and successfully completed a Pratt Senior Research project alongside a classmate. Her instructors have consistently recognized her strong leadership skills, noting her ability to inspire peers in her option and contribute meaningfully to the program's community.

Assistant Director and Senior Instructor Rachel Kohl shared:

“Emily had significant industry experience before entering the AT Program and has been open to learning more about all sectors of the agriculture industry. She has excelled in leadership roles as well as completing Pratt Senior Research with a classmate. I am proud of her accomplishments and look forward to learning about all she will accomplish in the future.”

The Rising Professional Award honors students who have demonstrated exceptional growth within their industry during their time in the Agricultural Technology Program. Aiden Mueller, the 2025 recipient for the Landscape & Turf Management option, exemplifies this distinction.

Aiden has been an active member of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Club and has served as both an AT Ambassador and a peer mentor for the first-year experience course. Academically accomplished, he has also represented Virginia Tech at several turf and landscaping competitions.

His professional development was further enhanced by a successful internship at the prestigious Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, where he managed small crews and oversaw bunker maintenance, making key management and agronomic decisions. Aiden has also gained hands-on experience working at Hanging Rock Golf Club, Blacksburg Country Club, Williamsburg National Golf Club, and the Virginia Tech Golf Course.

Turfgrass instructor Jonathan Dickerson remarked,

“Aiden’s progress over the past two years has been impressive. He transitioned from being a solid academic performer who really just wanted to begin his career, to someone who is enthusiastic about learning and excited about the opportunities ahead. This progress and maturity have not gone unnoticed, as Aiden will be returning to Hazeltine National Golf Club as a full-time first assistant this summer! Aiden will be stepping into two major tournament preparations as Hazeltine will be hosting the 2026 Women's PGA Championship and the 2029 Ryder Cup. What an exceptional achievement for someone so young. I know he is up to the challenge.”

The Outstanding Intern Award honors a graduating student who stepped beyond their comfort zone and excelled during their internship within the Agricultural Technology Program. Colin Hopper, the 2025 awardee for the Applied Agricultural Management option, demonstrated exceptional initiative and growth throughout his internship experience.

Colin completed his internship at Tri-S Farms, a row crop operation in Eastville, Virginia, near the Chesapeake Bay. During his internship, he managed various responsibilities, including irrigation systems, grain harvesting and hauling, equipment and land maintenance, fuel pump refilling, and chemical applications.

Advanced Instructor Wesley Gwaltney remarked:

“Colin completed a great internship. His supervisor spoke very highly of him and stated that there was no job he couldn’t entrust Colin with. Colin has been a great student and has a good grasp of agronomy. He has not only shown interest in his crop and soil classes but is also inquisitive in his forages class. I look forward to seeing Colin become a successful crop producer.”

The Outstanding Intern Award recognizes a graduating student who stepped beyond their comfort zone and excelled during their internship within the Agricultural Technology Program. Michael Bemis, the 2025 recipient for the Landscape & Turf Management option, demonstrated exceptional initiative and growth throughout his internship experience.

Michael completed his internship at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York. There, he gained hands-on experience in moisture management, and the upkeep of greens, fairways, and tees. Notably, he was entrusted with establishing new turf on the course, showcasing his ability to handle significant responsibilities in a prestigious setting.

Turfgrass instructor Jon Dickerson remarked:

“Michael's success was no surprise to me and his other instructors. He demonstrated remarkable courage by traveling to Long Island to manage the prestigious National Golf Links of America this past summer. His previous experiences at his family's course, The Hollows in Montpelier, VA, along with a full year in our program, undoubtedly prepared him for this journey. Michael rose to the challenge of managing turf on The Peconic Bay in New York, where the different climate, turf species, and more demanding clientele provided him with a broader perspective of the industry and valuable networking connections that will propel his career forward. We wish him the best of luck at The Roaring Fork Club in Basalt, Colorado this summer.”

The Scholarly Achievement Award is presented to the student who earned the highest GPA in the 2025 Virginia Tech Agricultural Technology graduating class. It is with great pride that we recognize Robert (Rob) Starr as the winner of the 2025 Agricultural Technology Scholarly Achievement Award.

Rob has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout his time in the program. This remarkable accomplishment reflects his unwavering commitment to his education, meticulous attention to detail, and consistent pursuit of excellence.

Agribusiness instructor Morgan Holder stated:

“Rob is the type of student that every teacher wants to have in their class. He consistently submitted exceptional work and asked insightful questions. Outside of academics, Rob served as a great role model for other AT students. He has a great demeanor and will excel in whatever he chooses to do moving forward.”

We are pleased to announce that Allison Bower and Emily Rose Sears are the recipients of the 2024–2025 John Lee Pratt Agricultural Technology Animal Nutrition Research Scholarship. This esteemed award, funded by the John Lee Pratt Foundation, supports Agricultural Technology students in conducting senior research projects under the guidance of faculty advisors. Each recipient receives a $3,000 scholarship, with an additional $2,000 allocated to their faculty advisor for research support. AgTech Virginia TechCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Allison and Emily embarked on a yearlong research project titled, “Stockpiled Fescue Yield & Quality Responses to Nitrogen Fertilizer.” Their study aimed to compare the effects of nitrogen fertilization versus natural nitrogen contributions from cattle excrement on the yield and nutritional value of stockpiled tall fescue. The research sought to determine if soil mineralization from cattle excrement could sufficiently meet the nitrogen needs of the forage, potentially reducing the necessity for additional commercial nitrogen applications.

Advanced Instructor Wesley Gwaltney commended their work, stating:

“Allison and Emily were a pleasure to work with. They took ownership of their work from the beginning and worked very independently throughout their research. They were both very responsible, and I was never concerned that anything would slip through the cracks. What I enjoyed most was getting to know them both better. I am confident they will both have successful futures in the ag industry.”

Their dedication to research and the agricultural community exemplifies the values upheld by the John Lee Pratt Scholarship and contributes valuable insights to the field of animal nutrition.

We are proud to recognize the exceptional contributions of the following students who served as Teaching Assistants in the Agricultural Technology Program during the 2024–2025 academic year:

• Spring 2025 Livestock Reproduction Lab
  
  • J.T. Foster
  • Alayna Major 
• Fall 2024 Introduction to Animal Science Lab
  
  • Alayna Major
  • Melody Simpson

Their dedication, hard work, and commitment to fostering a positive learning environment have significantly impacted our students' educational experiences. By assisting before, during, and after labs, guiding students, and supporting faculty, they have played an instrumental role in the success of our courses.

We are proud to recognize the exceptional contributions of the following students who served as Agricultural Technology Ambassadors during the 2024–2025 academic year:

• Allison Bower
• Michael Bemis
• Whit Coggin
• Brooklyn Hensley
• Aiden Mueller
• Emily Sears
• Melody Simpson

These ambassadors have demonstrated outstanding dedication to representing the Agricultural Technology Program. Through their efforts in recruitment, outreach, and serving as liaisons between prospective students and the program, they have played a vital role in promoting our mission and values.

Their commitment to excellence and service embodies the spirit of leadership and community engagement that defines our program. We extend our heartfelt appreciation for their invaluable contributions and for being exemplary representatives of the Agricultural Technology community.

• Michael Bemis
• Samuel Whitfield Coggin, Jr
• Brooklyn Hensley
• Jack Lowery
• Melody Simpson
• Robert Starr

• Allison Bower
• John Foster
• Samuel Heaton
• Tyler Herald
• Trenton Johnson
• Aiden Mueller
• Cooper Owen

• Marshall Campbell
• Emily Faulconer
• Colin Hopper
• Logan Kellum
• Alayna Major