The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will honor its outstanding alumni with awards recognizing their contributions to agriculture. The awards include the Young Alumni of Distinction award, the Undergraduate of Distinction award, and the Graduate Award, with Rebecca Bott-Knutson receiving the Graduate of Distinction award. Bott-Knutson earned her master’s degree in animal science from Nebraska in 2005 and is currently the dean of the Honors College at South Dakota State University. She has defined and measured the impact of quality honors education and facilitated multidisciplinary learning through the Honors Colloquium series.
Cayla Beebe-Iske will receive the Young Alumni of Distinction award for her work in animal nutrition, while Deb Hamernik will receive the Undergraduate of Distinction award for her contributions to agricultural research. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is proud to recognize its alumni for their outstanding accomplishments in the field of agriculture.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Animal Science to honor five individuals with awards.
On April 22, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Animal Science will recognize five individuals at its annual Block and Bridle Club and Alumni and Friends Reunion in the Nebraska East Union’s Great Plains Room. This year’s honorees are Chancellor Ronnie Green, Jane Green, Cayla Beebe-Iske, Deb Hamernik, and Rebecca Bott-Knutson.
Chancellor Ronnie Green and Jane Green have been selected as the 2023 Block and Bridle Club honorees. They will also serve as grand marshals for Nebraska’s 2022 Homecoming Parade.
Block and Bridle Honorees
Since 1938, the Block and Bridle Club has been recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to Nebraska agriculture through leadership, service, youth projects, community activities, and involvement with the university. Industry leaders nominate the candidates, and club officers and advisers select the recipients.
Ronnie Green and Jane Green
Ronnie Green and Jane Green have made significant contributions to agriculture in Nebraska and beyond. Ronnie was raised on a mixed beef, dairy, and cropping farm in southwestern Virginia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Virginia Tech, his master’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University, and his doctoral degree in animal breeding and genetics from Nebraska.
Jane grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm near Harvard, Nebraska, and earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural honors and master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a Regent’s Scholarship.
Ronnie served on the animal science faculties at Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Colorado State. He was also the national program leader for animal production research for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and is an internationally recognized authority in animal genetics. Additionally, he served as the executive secretary of the White House’s interagency working group on animal genomics within the National Science and Technology Council.
Jane has also made significant contributions to Nebraska agriculture. She has served on several boards and commissions, including the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, and was named one of the 50 most influential Nebraskans by the Omaha World-Herald.
Conclusion
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Animal Science will honor five individuals for their outstanding contributions to Nebraska agriculture at its annual Block and Bridle Club and Alumni and Friends Reunion on April 22. This year’s honorees include Chancellor Ronnie Green, Jane Green, Cayla Beebe-Iske, Deb Hamernik, and Rebecca Bott-Knutson. Ronnie and Jane Green will also serve as grand marshals for Nebraska’s 2022 Homecoming Parade.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln to honor alumni with awards.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is set to recognize three of its alumni for their outstanding accomplishments with awards. These awards include the Young Alumni of Distinction award, the Undergraduate of Distinction award, and the Graduate Award.
Young Alumni of Distinction Award
Cayla Beebe-Iske, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2013, will be honored with the Young Alumni of Distinction award. She developed an interest in nutrition while pursuing her undergraduate degree in animal science with a companion animal science option. Her work on feeding insects to improve their nutritional value for other animals led to changes in how feeder crickets are fed at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
After earning her doctoral degree, Beebe-Iske became the nutritionist for Oxbow Animal Health, where she reinvigorated their research program and developed a wide range of new diets. She is now the director of nutrition for the Omaha zoo and oversees one of the leading zoo nutrition laboratories in the United States. Beebe-Iske also works with the Department of Animal Science to assist with graduate student training and is a guest lecturer in multiple courses.
Undergraduate of Distinction Award
Deb Hamernik, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981, will be honored with the Undergraduate of Distinction award. After earning her master’s degree in animal science from Washington State University and her doctoral degree in reproductive endocrinology from Colorado State University, Hamernik served in a variety of roles at Nebraska, the University of Arizona, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 2009, Hamernik returned to Nebraska to become associate dean of agricultural research and associate director of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and professor in the Department of Animal Science. During her time in Nebraska, she served as administrator of sponsored funding for agricultural research and enhanced the competitiveness of interdisciplinary research teams for extramural funding. Hamernik also served as interim associate vice chancellor for research at Nebraska and was later named associate vice chancellor for research. She now serves as director of the Animal Systems Division in the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability at the USDA.
Graduate Award
The graduate award honoree has not been announced yet.
Conclusion
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is proud to recognize its outstanding alumni for their accomplishments in the field of agriculture. Cayla Beebe-Iske will receive the Young Alumni of Distinction award for her work in animal nutrition. Deb Hamernik will receive the Undergraduate of Distinction award for her contributions to agricultural research. The honoree for the Graduate Award has yet to be announced.
South Dakota State University professor to receive Graduate of Distinction award.
Rebecca Bott-Knutson, who earned her master’s degree in animal science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005, will be honored with the Graduate of Distinction award. She currently serves as the dean of the Honors College at South Dakota State University and has worked to define and measure the impact of quality honors education through new student learning outcomes and assessment. Bott-Knutson has also facilitated multidisciplinary learning through the Honors Colloquium series.
Congratulations to Rebecca Bott-Knutson on this well-deserved recognition of her accomplishments in the field of animal science and higher education.
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