College Awards

The Julian A. McPhee Outstanding Student Scholar Award is given to the college valedictorian, who will be recognized at commencement.

Past Honorees

2024 - Pia Spors

2023 - Jillian Henson

2022 - Candace Downing

2021 - Breanne Carey

2020 - Courteney Welch

2019 – Sarah Caballero

2018 – Rose Gabrielle Mendez

2017 – Ellen Tang

2016 – Scott Rosas

2015 – Madeline E. Gross, Michaiah J. Leal

2014 – DawnKylee Klarich

2013 - Rachel Broguiere

2012 - Samantha Hammergren

2011 - Jeannie Knuchell

2010 - Leo Holguin

2009 - Amanda Jean Spikerman

2008 - Jenna Becker

2007 - Alison Marie Flanagan

2006 - William Jolley

The John E. Andrews Student Leader of the Year Award is given each year to an undergraduate and graduate student for scholarship, service, and contributions to others, including fellow students, their departments, the food and agricultural industry, and the community.

Nominees must have been enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona for at least a year (sophomore through graduate standing) and be full-time students.

Leadership contributions will be considered on a qualitative basis including success, involvement, effectiveness, time commitment, innovation of activities, positions held, the degree of responsibility, and contributions made.

Huntley College of Agriculture faculty, staff, and fellow students can make nominations by outlining the leadership activities of the nominee for the past year and a supporting rationale for selecting the nominee.

A sample of the student’s work can be included to support contributions in the area of scholarship, e.g., a thesis, senior project, research poster, or capstone paper. Please attach supporting documents along with the nomination form.

Recipients will receive a cash award of $500 and a plaque. 

Past Honorees

2024 - Michelle Baggett (undergraduate); Myunggyo "Emily" Yu (graduate)

2023 - Ashley Castro (undergraduate); Zhe Jane Zhang (graduate)

2022 - Jacqueline Thach (undergraduate); Irma Villanueva (graduate)

2021 - Shubham Malani (undergraduate); Sarah Caballero (graduate)

2020 - Viral Shukla (undergraduate); Franciela Garcia (graduate)

2019 – Mariana Garcia Rocha (undergraduate); Heidi Holmquist (graduate)

2018 – Joseph Wolf (undergraduate); Oscar Del Real (graduate)

2017 – Branden Garner (undergraduate); Andy Reynaga (graduate)

2016 – Brett Timmons (undergraduate); Bec McDorman (graduate)

2015 – Aasta Yim (undergraduate)

2014 – John Bennett (undergraduate); Nannette Ros (graduate)

2013 - Rana Saldano

2012 - Andy Tuy

2011- Courtney Habegger

2010 - Vihaney Gonzalez (undergraduate); Jeannette Hand (graduate)

2009 - Christine "Betty" Crocker (undergraduate); Paul Nurre (graduate)

2008 - Joanna Reguis

2007 - Paul Nurre and Patrick Dosier (undergraduate); Armen Malazian (graduate)

2006 - Dustin Tatsumi (undergraduate); Russell Plumb (graduate)

The Teacher of the Year Award is given annually to the faculty member who demonstrates exceptional teaching ability. The criteria for evaluating nominees include:

• caring
• the ability to manage the learning process
• subject matter competence
• zeal for teaching
• efforts given to planning
• scholarly writings and other contributions
• development of new curriculum or other teaching materials
• professional development activities that increase their effectiveness
• peer consulting.

The honorees will receive a $500 cash award and a plaque presented to them at Fall Conference. In addition, their names will be inscribed on a permanent plaque at the Huntley College of Agriculture.

Huntley College of Agriculture students and faculty may submit nominations.

Note: each award recipient is removed from eligibility for nomination for two years following receipt of the award. After that period, they are eligible for subsequent nominations.

Past Honorees

2024 - Hyungchul Han (animal and veterinary science)

2023 - Kathy Earle (animal and veterinary science)

2022 - Andrea Watson (animal and veterinary science)

2021 - Tracey Takeuchi (plant science)

2020 - Cord Brundage (animal and veterinary science)

2019 – Ben Lehan (plant science)

2018 – Olive Li (nutrition and food science)

2017 – Gabriel Davidov-Pardo (nutrition and food science)

2016 – Joanne Sohn (animal and veterinary science)

2015 – Melissa Hulgreen (animal and veterinary science)

2014 – Terry Fujimoto (plant science)

2013 - Kimberley Miller (agricultural science)

2012 - Oscar Chavez (animal and veterinary science)

2011 - Frank Yee (plant science)

2010 - Lisa Kessler (human nutrition and food science)

2009 - Douglas Lewis (human nutrition and food science)

2008 - Michele Rash (animal and veterinary science)

2007 - Martin Sancho-Madriz (human nutrition and food science)

2006 - Kent Kurtz (plant science)

The Faculty Advisor of the Year Award is given to the faculty member who does the best quality work in advising students on academics and their career plans. Honorees will receive a $500 cash award and plaque presented during Fall Conference. The university president also hosts an event where outstanding advisors are honored. The honoree's name will be inscribed on a permanent plaque displayed in the Huntley College of Agriculture.

Huntley College of Agriculture students, faculty, and staff can submit nominations for this award.

Note: each award recipient is removed from eligibility for nomination for two years following receipt of the award. After that period, they are eligible for subsequent nominations.

Past Honorees

2024 - Erik Froyen (nutrition and food science)

2023 - Xu Yang (nutrition and food science)

2022 - Olive Li (nutrition and food science)

2021 - Eileen Cullen (plant science)

2020 - Jiangning Che (apparel merchandising and management)

2019 – Gabriel Davidov-Pardo (nutrition and food science)

2018 – Cord Brundage (animal and veterinary science)

2017 – Bonny Burns-Whitmore (nutrition and food science)

2016 – Valerie Mellano (agribusiness and food industry management/agricultural science; plant science)

2015 – Broc Sandelin (animal and veterinary science)

2014 – Michele Rash (animal and veterinary science)

2013 - Lisa Kessler (human nutrition and food science)

2012 - Nancy Merlino (agribusiness and food industry management)

2011 - Muditha Senanayake (apparel merchandising and management)

2010 - Broc Sandelin (animal and veterinary science)

2009 - Fred Roth (plant science)

2008 - Dan Hostetler (plant science)

2007 - Greg Partida (plant science)

2006 - Martin Sancho-Madriz (human nutrition and food science); Michele Rash (animal and veterinary science)

Starting in 2023, the Staff Advisor of the Year Award is given to the staff member who does the best quality work in advising students on academics and their career plans. Honorees will receive a $500 cash award and plaque presented during Fall Conference. The university president also hosts an event where outstanding advisors are honored. The honoree's name will be inscribed on a permanent plaque displayed in the Huntley College of Agriculture.

Huntley College of Agriculture students, faculty, and staff can submit nominations for this award.

2024 - Rosa Lamas Serratos

2023 - Nicole Turner

The Staff of the Year Award is given to a staff member in the college who demonstrates:

• caring
• good communication skills
• initiative
• the ability to assist with the learning process
• zeal for assisting faculty, students, or staff
• effort given to planning
• contributions to a department, college, or university.
• professional development that leads to improved job performance.

Recipients will be given a $500 cash award and receive a plaque at Fall Conference. Their name also will be inscribed on a permanent plaque at the Huntley College of Agriculture.

Huntley College of Agriculture students, faculty, or staff can submit nominations.

Note: each award recipient is removed from eligibility for nomination for two years following receipt of the award. After that period, they are eligible for subsequent nominations.

Past Honorees

2024 - Stacey Cordua (animal and veterinary science)

2023 - Erika Soares (dean's office)

2022 - Efrain Loera (animal and veterinary science)

2021 - Maddi Ogburn (W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center)

2020 - Rubria Wilson (nutrition and food science)

2019 – Jenifer Cazares (agribusiness and food industry management/agricultural science)

2018 – Eva Jaeger (animal and veterinary science)

2017 – Frances Loya (nutrition and food science)

2016 – Tony Espinas (apparel merchandising and management)

2015 – Sarah DeLaParra (animal and veterinary science)

2014 – Duncan McKee (plant science)

2013 - Donna Ha (human nutrition and food science)

2012 - Kate Smith (W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center)

2011 - Sharon Roth (dean's office)

2010 - Sherri Reichardt (animal and veterinary science)

2009 - Mike Moran (plant science)

2008 - Chad Cleveland (plant science)

2007 - Anna Marie Barlet (plant science)

2006 - Penne Fode (dean's office)

Every year, the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association presents the Distinguished Alumni Awards. One alumnus from each college and athletics is chosen for the honor. The criteria include:

• outstanding achievement in a profession or a vocation
• service to a local, national or global community
• service to Cal Poly Pomona
• nominees must have graduated from Cal Poly Pomona or the Voorhis campus
• recipients can only receive the award once
• current faculty and staff and members of the alumni association's board of directors are ineligible.

Past Distinguished Alumni Honorees

The Jim Hicks Agricultural Achievement Award is given to an individual in recognition of their achievements in agriculture and their contributions to agricultural education. It is named after businessman Jim Hicks, who was the inaugural recipient of the award in 2015, in honor of his achievements in the agricultural industry and his long-time support of agriculture education.