A student designer clutches a bouquet and blows a kiss to the audience at the end of the AMDT Fashion show runway, surrounded by her models in a ruffly pastel blue collection.
CAHNRS Connections
April/May 2025

CAHNRS Connections April/May 2025

Newsletter brought to you by CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs.

April’s Main Event

Student Awards

The CAHNRS Student Awards flyer, with disco balls, denim background, cowboy boots, and butterflies. Polaroid pictures are taped onto the background with fun denim pictures of the student workers in the SSAP office.

CAHNRS student excellence was celebrated with unprecedented spirit, thanks to our very own Emily Libey, who coordinated the theme “Diamonds and Denim” for this year’s Student Awards Ceremony! Nominees came dressed to the nines in their denim, sparkling with rhinestones to boot.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the scoring process, ceremony decor, certificates, and for making CAHNRS an amazing place to thrive.

We had some incredibly tough decisions with the excellent nominations this year, and are proud of each and every student’s hard work in achieving success in their education with CAHNRS.

See below for the list of recipients of this year’s student awards.

An example certificate covered in denim and studs and sparkles for Student Awards. The fake award goes to Butch T. Cougar, the WSU mascot.

Winners:

  • Cashup Davis Merit in Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences Award: Esther Grosz
  • Cashup Davis Merit in Human Sciences Award: Hannah McCready
  • Graduating Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences Research Award: Elizabeth Heilman
  • Graduating Human Sciences Research Award: Mackenzie Phelps
  • Emerging Leader in Human Sciences: Jennifer Morgan
  • Emerging Leader in Natural Resource Sciences: Julia Buckley
  • Emerging Leader in Agricultural Sciences: Lauren Crisostomo
  • CAHNRS For All Undergraduate Award: Miguel Fuentes
  • CAHNRS For All Graduate Award: Anaderi Inguez
  • Superior Club Award: MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences)

Outstanding Seniors

  • Kimberly Baxley – Food Science
  • Gusta Beard – Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Gracyn Cantrell – Apparel Design
  • Remy Cummings – Apparel Merchandising
  • Ashley Dickerson – Economics Policy and Law
  • Emily Libey – Human Development
  • Toby Watanabe – Apparel Design
  • Kamrynn Eddy – Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Miguel Fuentes – Agricultural Technology and Management
  • Samantha Gambonini – Agricultural Education
  • Sarah Kovich – Agricultural Economics
  • Malachi Ledbetter – Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Natalie Valdez – Landscape Nursery Greenhouse Management
  • Cam Longwith – Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences
  • Madison Shaw – Viticulture and Enology
  • Mackenzie Potter – Animal Sciences
  • Samantha Schreier – Human Development (Global Campus)
  • Gil Shatti – Business Economics
  • Ethan Stocknow – Economics: Financial Markets

CAHNRS Spirit

Various fashion show looks strut the runway at the AMDT Fashion Show 2025
Students touching real pattern pieces that have just been cut out on the conveyer belt during an experience at Tuka Tech.
Three AMDT trip attendees look down from a high-up balcony with sunglasses.
One of the winning looks from the fashion show, winning the Dean's Choice Award, this cowboy cultural reference collection includes 5 looks on the runway.
A student stands next to her posterboard with her research on the Feasibility of Nigeria in Meeting Future Conservation Targets.
A student stands next to her posterboard with her research
Attendees of the AMDT trip take a selfie in LA in front of a staircase of the visiting companies full of LA grassy plants, having way too much fun
Four Y2K reminiscent looks from a fashion show collect pose at the end of the runway.
Four models in majestic floral gowns pose at the end of the runway.

Highlighted Event Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

The cougar statue's face looking down with pride on the graduating students.

May 3, 2025 at 8:00am

CAHNRS Commencement
The FFA logo

May 8-10 at 8:00am-5:00pm


Washington FFA State Convention

AMDT Fashion Show 2025 – Metanoia

A butterfly logo that connects to the text AMDT Fashion show sits on a floral abstract background.

Metanoia – AMDT Student Designs

An incredible night featuring innovative and even humorous designs, this year’s AMDT Fashion Show was one to remember.

With inspiration from celestial bodies, floral gardens, fanciful expression of their own culture, and nostalgic moments brought back to life, the expressiveness of this generation shined. Not only showcasing the execution of tailored fitting and advanced construction, the additional efforts to bend the mind with designs inspired by household objects like lamps and garden gloves were the touch of dramatic emotional roller-coaster that tickled the mind as a viewer.

We are so proud of our CAHNRS Cougs creating unforgettable designs. Thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.

Three layers of different plaid skirts are worn atop yet a different plaid pant, with a matte grey tube top and matching tie. The model has a serious and down-to-business demeanor.
A model in a giant ruffled recycled dress blows a kiss to the audience on the end of the runway.
A celestial look in vibrant orange brocade, the model stands tall with the confidence of the sun, a headpiece representing rays of light radiating from her head. A gold belt and gold shoes accessorize the look.
A floral lavender look, this dress features ruffled flowers and butterflies on the hips of a lace corset bustier. A long ombre train of floaty fabric trails behind her.
A model poses dramatically with fanciful arms adorned with bangles, wearing a highly-saturated red skirt with gold shining embroidery, a textured top, and a gigantic tall fringed lamp shade on top of her head.
The model walks the runway with a smirk, wearing red rounded sunglasses on his face. The outfit is a light blue jacket reminiscent of the style and colors of garden gloves, with matching pants. It seems a normal, wearable outfit, however the arms are extended by about 5 feet of extra length. The extended arms reach out with garden gloves on the ends.
Three models pose on the runway, adorned in crushed velvet dramatic looks with enormous fringed lamp shades on their heads.
A fanciful cowboy look with intricate mixed patterns and denim is topped off with a cowboy hat, as the model is framed by bright lights on the runway.

CAHNRS Faculty & Staff Awards

A sign for the Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony, a mirror with crystals, bouquet, and programs adorn a table at the awards ceremony, setting the scene.
The awards are stacked neatly, waiting to be given to their recipients as the awards ceremony kicks off.
Greek column and golden roses representing the awards theme.

Awards Ceremony – April 22nd

An afternoon of recognition for some of the Faculty and Staff who make CAHNRS great. Recipients of each of 14 awards were presented, along with a new recognition award, the CAHNRS For All Ribbon Award.

Nominators were given a chance to speak on their first-hand knowledge of the incredible recipients, making the ceremony funny, heart-warming, and personal. We are so proud of the amazing family we have built in CAHNRS, and are honored to have the opportunity to recognize the people who make it possible. Thank you to those who submitted nomination packets.

Sindhu speaking on her nomination of Troy Peters, with Troy peters at her side.
Rae Olsson receiving their award from Dean Powers.
Kimi Lucas speaking on her nomination of Kat Odell, with Kat standing alongside her.
Joanna Dreger receiving her award from Dean Wendy Powers.
Liz Mieirs shaking Dean Wendy Powers's hand while receiving her award.
Roses, columns, and balloons surrounding the text that spells CAHNRS Faculty & Staff Awards.

Recipients

  • Administrative Professional Staff Excellence Award: Joanna Dreger
  • Administrative Professional Technical Staff Excellence Award: Tawnee Melton
  • Classified Technical Staff Excellence Award: Liz Mieirs
  • CAHNRS For All Staff Excellence Award: Kat Odell
  • Excellence in Advising: Scott Brown
  • R.M. Wade Award for Excellence in Teaching: Anna Warner
  • Early Career Excellence Award: Kirti Rajagopalan
  • Land Grant Mission Award: Meijun Zhu
  • Faculty Excellence in Extension Award: Troy Peters
  • Faculty Excellence in Research Award: Manuel Garcia-Pérez
  • CAHNRS For All Faculty Excellence Award: Rae Olsson
  • Faculty Administrator Award: Chad Kruger
  • Team Interdisciplinary Award: Soil to Society

WSU Student Employee of the Year: Emily Libey

Nancy Deringer, Associate Dean for Student Success, leans in with graduating student, Emily Libey. Emily is holding her award for Student Employee of the Year.

We are so excited to celebrate Emily Libey as the recipient of the 2025 WSU Student Employee of the Year Award, the highest award. Not only has she represented CAHNRS academically as one of our Outstanding Seniors, but she is also responsible for the launch of our  CAHNRS TikTok account and a million other unforgettable event themes, motivational ideas, and countless hours of extra effort. She puts her soul into everything she does for us.

As our CAHNRS representative, Emily will be carrying our official banner, the gonfalon, at the graduation ceremony this year. We couldn’t be prouder of her achievements, but even more than that, we are so thankful for the light, optimism, realness, and comfort she brings to our office. Whenever you need a hug or the execution of a hard project, you can bet Emily will be there!

Read more about Emily at CAHNRS News: ‘Genuine joy and positivity’
Attendees of the AMDT trip take a selfie in LA in front of a staircase of the visiting companies full of LA grassy plants, having way too much fun
Emily Libey poses back-to-back with Butch.
Emily Libey receives her award at the CAHNRS Student Awards 2025, surrounded by her friends in CAHNRS SSAP.

AMDT Student Trip to California – March 2025

A Tuka Tech representative points towards a heart-shaped cutout of fabric with furry texture while talking to the students about how it's cut. Students stand in the background observing.

Study Tour Day 1 – Tuka Tech

Day 1 of the tour kicked off with Tuka Tech, a company that creates their designs using digital patterning. Students were able to experience up-close and hands-on these methods of patterning and innovative laser cutting technology. With 3D models, fabric waste is virtually eliminated, while design and shape flaws in patterns are mitigated.

Students were able to see a suit jacket being cut out, and observed how precise the technology was first-hand. Pictured is an example of a textured fabric that is perfectly cut into a heart shape.

A student is seen laying her hands on an enormous conveyer belt that is feeding fabric through a laser cutter, with the head representative of Tuka Tech pressing buttons on the machine in the background.

Tuka Tech

Pictured here is the machine that laser-cuts fabrics, which students were able to observe. First the measurements are entered, then the pattern is programmed in the system, and fabric is fed through the conveyer belt to be cut perfectly every time. The minimal amount of waste fabric is then fed into a waste bin automatically. This kind of technology is essential to the learning experience of the AMDT students because it provides context to their future careers’ activities, inspiration for sustainability in waste fabric reduction, and ideas for reducing labor cost using sophisticated programmable machinery to efficiently bring their creations to life.

Students stand in front of the Pacsun Los Angeles Sign.

PACSUN Tour

An unexpected leg of the tour, the students were lucky enough to be invited to visit the Pacsun headquarters. They got the opportunity to see office spaces and a real day-in-the-life of a marketing team member at a major company.

With the real-world experience came an extra treat, with the students being privy to the newest collection, yet unreleased. They were shown new pieces in a mock-up store, namely featuring pieces the company would be releasing in the coming months.

Lastly, they were showed the place where Pacsun does their photoshoots for garments that are featured on the website for sale.

Emily Libey holds a special magnifying glass with an engraving on it that says Bon Levy along with a WSU Cougar logo.

Day 3 – Bony Levy

On Day 3 of the tour, students visited Bon Levy, where they got to try out magnifying glasses to observe the precious gemstones in incredible detail. One of the miniature magnifying glasses is seen carved with the WSU Cougar logo.

SOAR: Student Outreach and Retention

The SOAR Logo, with text reading "Student Outreach and Retention, SOAR, What is SOAR?"

CAHNRS flies high above the status quo with SOAR, a mentorship program designed to foster meaningful connection between student mentees and their faculty, staff, or graduate student mentors. SOAR stands for Student Outreach and Retention, a testament to the CAHNRS mission of helping students who are seeking guidance and support.

Providing such collaboration allows CAHNRS to grow as a community and to ensure students are able to see through their entire degrees under the protective wing of a program that helps them glide steadily through troubling winds. With the opportunity for mentorship comes invaluable educational, social, and professional development opportunity for the students.

See a full list of the SOAR members, meet the SOAR team, explore frequently asked questions, read student experiences, and learn more about the SOAR mission at the What is Soar? webpage.

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