Student Success – Cultivate Summer 2025
Student Leadership Awards
Students and clubs were recognized at the CAFES Student Leadership Awards Banquet on May 29. This annual event celebrates the accomplishments of students and clubs.
Recognition | Student, Club or Group Recognized |
Louis H. and Stella Soares Outstanding Achievement Award | Andrew Angulo, agricultural communication major |
CAFES Ambassadors Dean’s Award | Tatum Hilands, agricultural communication major |
Academic Excellence Award | Coco Rael, nutrition major |
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College | Anna Bibby, agricultural business major |
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University | Megan Dixon, agricultural business major |
Service to the Community | Ava Sabella, environmental management and protection major with a wildlife biology concentration |
Service to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Angeli Morales, agricultural science major |
Large Club of the Year | Agribusiness Management/National Agri-Marketing Association Club |
Small Club of the Year | Young Cattlemen’s Association |
Club Representative of the Year | Macy Lloyd, wine and viticulture major |
Club Member of the Year | Tatum Hilands, agricultural communication major |
Spring Research Symposium
More than 90 posters were presented by undergraduate and graduate students at the annual Spring Student Research Symposium, held at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture in May.
Graduate student poster winners: first place: Abraham Ahumada (Plant Sciences, ’24); second place: Ashlee Pike (Agricultural Communication, ’23); third place: food science major Griffin Prough, who partnered with graduate student Jack Madden.
Undergraduate student poster winners: first place: fourth-year animal science major Giana Hollingsworth; second place: fourth-year computer science majors Beck Schemenauer and Gavin Lynch (co-advised by Animal Science Assistant Professor Mohammed Abo-Ismail); third place: fourth-year bioresource and agricultural engineering majors Annali Lynch, Ethan Chea, Cory Kuntz and Christopher Williams.
Mule Packing Club World Champions
Twelve students from the Cal Poly Mule Packing Club, coached by Animal Science Lecturer Lou Moore-Jacobsen, competed at the annual Bishop Mule Days in May, with Milena Wilson (animal science), Claire Saydah (animal science), Madison Martinich (animal science) and Lauren McEwen (agricultural communication) cinching the title of world champion intercollegiate packers after competing against nine other college packing teams for the top position. Competitions included individual packing, team loads, a pack scramble, comedy load and parade. Mule packing is a time-honored tradition turned competitive sport where teams race against the clock to efficiently and flawlessly pack gear used in the back country on horses and mules.
EIM World Cup Innovation Summit Hackathon
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration majors Josephine Kelly, Lizzy Phillips, Brisa Bergfeld and Kelli Lawson won first place in the undergraduate national hackathon pitch competition at the 2025 World Cup Innovation Summit in Dallas/Frisco, Texas in May. The Cal Poly team developed innovative strategies to boost U.S. Soccer merchandise sales, presented their ideas to executives, and networked with top professionals from FC Dallas and U.S. Soccer to Plug & Play Ventures and the Dallas Cowboys. They were coached by Professors Brian Greenwood and Kevin Lin.
National Collegiate Soils Competition
The Cal Poly Soil Judging Team took fifth in the nation at the 2025 National Collegiate Soils contest in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in April. The team competed against 26 other collegiate teams. This is the fourth consecutive year the team has placed in the top 10. Fourth-year environmental earth and soil sciences majors Sarah Hoffman took sixth place overall in the individual contest (out of 106 students) and Cody Cameron placed fourth overall in the alternate individual event (out of approximately 120 students). The team is coached by Assistant Professor Gordon Rees.
Floral Team Wins First in the Nation
The Cal Poly Floral Team won first place at the National Student Floral Design Contest held at the American Institute of Floral Designers Symposium July 12-15 in Palm Springs, California. Sofia Patnode, fourth-year plant sciences major, placed first overall, as well as second place in the bridal bouquet, flowers to wear and the interpretation arrangement categories. Emma Blair placed ninth in the interpretation arrangement and thirteenth place in the flowers to wear categories.
Advisor Melinda Lynch was also honored by the American Institute of Floral Designers with a national award for distinguished service to the floral industry. In addition, students also attended the California State Floral Association’s (CSFA) annual event held in July in Sacramento at the California State Fair. Students designed flower arrangements for two categories themed “Sizzling Summer,” with PJ Crocker (agricultural business) winning first place, Olivia Venegas-Hernandez (business administration) taking second, Vanessa Nunez-Jacuinde (kinesiology) taking third and May Ritter (architecture) taking fourth.
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