2023 Outstanding Senior: Lauren Preston

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Lauren Preston, a community leadership major from Canal Winchester, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Lauren’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major? 

I chose my major because I knew I wanted to one day work in the field of agriculture. My experience in 4-H really shaped my career aspirations, specifically my county’s FCS educator Shannon Carter. I was a member of our Fashion and Nutrition Board and Shannon led the club. While I was in the State Healthy Living program Theresa Ferrari and Carol Smathers also made a huge impact on my major decision. These experiences led me to have a passion for nutrition and for educating youth and adults. Through my time at OSU, I learned I could achieve my goals by working for Extensions or with Non-profits which I hope to do one day. 

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

Attending Ohio State was a dream I have had since I was a little girl. My grandfather and mother were both OSU graduates. Growing up my mom worked for ENR as a career counselor so as a family we would always attend different OSU events or football games. In high school, I attended OSU Stone Lab and took aquatic biology and oceanography. I loved those classes and the professors. I knew Ohio State was the school for me. 

What classes did you enjoy the most? 

The classes I took in the ACEL department were definitely my favorite ones. The most memorable class I had was my kinesiology class which I took as part of my youth development minor. I worked at a Nursing home for a couple of weeks and evaluated the residents on their mobility. I also had an opportunity to analyze a youth’s development. This class was super engaging and it was very different than any class I have ever taken.  

What student organizations have you been involved in  and what roles did you hold within those organizations?

During my time at OSU, I was a part of Collegiate 4-H at the Newark branch and in Columbus. It was great to connect with fellow 4-Hers from across the state all at OSU. I really enjoyed doing community service projects with the group. I was also a part of the OSU Club Gymnastics Team.  

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

I worked at OSU LiFEsports at the summer camp as a Chalk Talk Leader and I worked in hiring and recruitment. I gained a lot of experience working with youth in this role and I learned how to complete lesson plans. I also worked for OSU Farm to School. I have worked for OSU Farm to School for about two years and I have helped work on numerous grants and research studies. My favorite research study was during Spring of 2022, where I taught a gardening curriculum to a Head Start Site in Columbus and Circleville. I have loved getting to see the two different sides of extension work through these positions.  

What do you plan to do after graduation? 

I’m not sure yet but I plan to go back for my master’s! 

What stands out as your best college memory? 

My favorite college memory was going to all the football games. Being in and around the stadium was such an amazing feeling.  

What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

Everything will work out in the end  

2023 Outstanding Senior: Leah Winchell

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Leah Winchell, an agriscience education major from Creston, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Leah’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

I chose to attend Ohio State because they had a combined degree program, I was able to take agricultural related courses along with my education courses. I also chose to attend Ohio State because I had the opportunity to attend the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, close to home, to earn my Associates of Science.  

What classes did you enjoy the most? 

The classes I enjoyed the most were my teaching methods classes. Finally, being able to put all the theory, psychology, and content knowledge into practice was great! Building off of those teaching method courses would be my ASE Internship or student teaching. It is a great feeling to be able to put what I have learned over the past 3.5 years into practice and seeing first-hand how students respond to what I am teaching.  

What student organizations have you been involved in (locally and nationally) and what roles did you hold within those organizations (if applicable)? How were these organizations beneficial to your collegiate experience? 

  • ACELT 
  • Ag Ed Society-, I was banquet chair. Ag ed. Society allowed me to be engaged with my cohort outside of the classroom and build deeper friendships with them.  
  • Delight Ministries- I was surrounded by Godly women who constantly were building each other up and serving His Kingdom. Living on my own in Columbus my junior year, it was a great comfort to have this community of women just a phone call away.  

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

During the summers of my college career, I did my best to find jobs that would expand my content knowledge. I had jobs in greenhouses, mechanics, agronomy, animal nutrition, and on farms. I also would take classes offered by the Wayne County extension office. I attended a beef and dairy artificial insemination class on spring break and a small grains/ crops class last summer. There was always something that I fell in love with in each of these jobs, they helped strengthen my decision to go into agricultural education and teach about all of these topics.  

What do you plan to do after graduation? (If you don’t have anything planned yet, THAT IS TOTALLY OK!!!!!) 

After graduation I plan to teach agriculture in some capacity. My goal is to be an ag teacher and FFA advisor in the classroom in my area. If I’m not able to find a teaching position close to home, I would like to work for extension or an industry job where I will be able to educate the community about agriculture.  

What stands out as your best college memory? 

My best college memory would be in the fall semester of this year. Most of the seniors in ag ed traveled to FFA Camp Muskingum in October for 2 days. On the way there more of us were car sick than not and we couldn’t help but laugh at ourselves once we got there. We stayed in the State Officer Cabin, and for those that don’t know this is a huge deal! State Officers are basically celebrities. While at FFA Camp we taught lessons, played games, and built friendships while engaging with special needs learners. These learners were amazing, hilarious and so much fun to be around! After the teaching was over and we were all back in the cabin, there were some memories made that I will never forget. I definitely got to know my cohort on a deeper level after this trip. The best part was right before we were about to leave. Dr. Filson kept notes about the funny comments we said throughout the trip and when she read them, we had to guess who said them.  

What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

I would tell freshman Leah that college is harder than high school and it is okay to not be involved in as much. It is okay to call your mom multiple times a day when you are living on your own, even if it is to ask to see your dog. It is okay that you don’t like to party, you will make friends that feel the same way and you will go pet puppies instead.  Go to new places, but always go with a friend. It is okay to outgrow your hometown friends, college is where you grow into who you are meant to be.  

2023 Outstanding Senior: Megan Watson

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Megan Watson, an community leadership major from Chillicothe, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Megan’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major? 

I realized during my freshman year at OSU (while in a different major) that I had a passion for community development and this major was the perfect fit for my needs! The ACEL department has become a second family to me and I love that I have so many people in my corner that are cheering me on as I enter into the workforce. 

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

The community at Ohio State was unlike anything I knew was possible at a university. I felt right at home the first time I came to campus and I knew that I was destined to be a Buckeye right in that moment. My momma also said I had to be a Buckeye 😉 

What classes did you enjoy the most? 

Line Dancing!! I wouldn’t be a 4-H alum and not plug this class but it was SO MUCH FUN!! More seriously, I also really enjoyed my visual communication intro class! 

What student organizations have you been involved in(locally and nationally)and what roles did you hold within those organizations (if applicable)? How were these organizations beneficial to your collegiate experience? 

H2O Church – small group leader 

Collegiate 4-H at Ohio State – Vice President 

These organizations have become a vital part of my college experience and I love all these people with my whole heart. They have helped me to grow and learn and become a better woman and I can’t imagine what my experience at OSU would have been like without them. 

What internships did you complete andwhat were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

Marion County 4-H – all other duties as assigned J But in all seriousness, this internship is what solidified for me that I wanted to go into Extension Education, but also that I was cut out for it! Margo Long, my cooperating Educator, has become a dear friend and mentor and has taught (and is still teaching!) me so much about what it means to care for a community! 

Ohio 4-H Camping and Older Youth – Working with Sarah Longo has been nothing short of amazing and I have had the most wonderful opportunities to learn and grow and play! Working with teens this semester has shown me where my passions truly lie and I love that I’ve been able to work with them so closely.  

What do you plan to do after graduation? (If you don’t have anything planned yet, THAT IS TOTALLY OK!!!!!) 

Be a 4-H Educator (or something close!) 

What stands out as your best college memory? 

Many late-night walks on campus with friends. So many memories on this campus for me that hold so many laughs and fears. Also Late Night Zumba and Sunrise Yoga! 

What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

There is not a mold you need to fit into in college. Stop trying to! 

2023 Outstanding Senior: Rachael Billbups

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Rachael Billups, an agricultural communication major from Wilmington, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Rahael’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?  

I had no real direction or interests for most of high school, but as I grew more interested in FFA and sharing my passions in agriculture with those around me, the field drew me in. Growing up I enjoyed writing and being creative, so between those interests and the public speaking contests I competed in, Ag Communication caught my attention. After learning more about it at Ohio State, I was convinced it combined a variety of my interests and I was sold. 

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

I have been dressed in Ohio State attire since I was a toddler, and everyone expected me to attend Ohio State. However, there was a few years at the end of middle school and most of high school that I felt OSU was too big and not realistic for me. As I continued touring more colleges, I realized I actually did want to go somewhere bigger, with more opportunities, cool experiences and great student life. My first tour of Ohio State was in late October, right before the early application deadline, but I quickly knew that this was the place I would call home for a few years. 

What classes did you enjoy the most?  

While the AgriNaturalist Capstone class has come with its fair share of stress, I have truly appreciated the time to spend with my peers that I have grown through this program with. I enjoy spending time with them and I really do benefit from learning and working beside them, so many of my major classes have great memories associated with them. Other classes outside of CFAES I have enjoyed include a young adult literature class and the History of Ohio. 

What student organizations have you been involved in and what roles did you hold within those organizations ? How were these organizations beneficial to your collegiate experience? 

ACT has been my main focus throughout my four years. I have been the treasurer, leadership committee chair, and currently serve as the president of the club. ACT has given me endless connections, the opportunity to plan a major professional development event, attended other events and workshops and create stronger relationships with those that share the same interests. Many of the skills I am walking away from my four years with have been developed or refined through ACT. Additionally, it was a club where I was really brought out of my shell by older members from the beginning of my time in the organization, which was so crucial to my continued involvement and encouraged me to return the favor to the underclassmen now. 

AZP is another impactful organization where I have been able to go through various leadership workshops and recently travel to Costa Rica for a study abroad trip over spring break. Our membership became very small post-pandemic, so this organization offered the opportunity for myself and the four other remaining members to decide what we wanted for the organization and what we were going to do to get there. I will have a lot of timeless memories and experiences to take with me from my time in AZP. 

Additionally, I have spent my latter three years as a Resident Advisor in the CFAES learning community. This has given me a totally different skill set than my major-related organizations. Beyond giving me some of my favorite people, I have gained a lot of experience in working with people and growing and developing as a person without even realizing it. 

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

I had an internship with Petland Inc., where I wrote and created graphics for various blog posts about products, general pet tips and other topics. I also did wrote some of the copy for the new app that was being created at the time and turned the research into additional social media graphics to post across thecorporate accounts. I was able to prepare for and attend the annual trade show and interact with franchisees and the vendors while learning more about the business. 

I spent seven and a half months working at the COBA/Select Sires office as the communication/marketing intern. My main tasks included stuffing envelopes and organizing their distribution for the field staff, designing the inserts for those, as well as print ads and social media graphics. I also created the shirt for 4-H dairy exhibitors at the state fair and prepared the show book covers. A large project was designing the layout of a 12-page product catalog for both internal and external use. 

I realized that I enjoy having a variety of tasks to do within a position. I do not have one specific specialty or thing I would like to focus on, but I like doing new things each day and learning as I go along. 

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation I am returning to COBA/Select Sires to fill a temporary position on the communications team where I will have the chance to further refine my skills and develop new ones with a team and organization I already know and love. 

What stands out as your best college memory? 

It is definitely hard to pick a best college memory, but I have soaked up all the sports moments I could enjoy as a student, so those rise to the top of my brain. There will be few basketball games that will come close to the joy of the men’s team making a comeback to beat No. 1 Duke at the beginning of the season during my junior year. We were able to rush the court and sing Carmen and Sweet Caroline with a bunch of happy Buckeyes and some of my favorite players. A second memory would be waking up at sunrise with 13 other Ohio State students on the STEP trip to go take photos of Crater Lake in Oregon. 

What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

To my freshman self, I would say hang in there. No one could have prepared for the pandemic interruptions, and while it was less than ideal, find the joy and know that it gets better each day. Keep allowing yourself to move beyond your comfort zone, many of the best people are still out there, and do not change who you are at your core. It’s gonna be a great four years! 

2023 Outstanding Senior: Maddie Coppel

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Maddie Coppel, an agricultural communication major from Chillicothe, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Maddie’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major? 

I chose my major of agricultural communication because I wanted to learn more about the background of where my food comes from and how to share that with others. I have always been interested in food and sustainability and wanting to connect my passion for writing back to that.  

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

I chose Ohio State because I had heard nothing but great things about the university from friends and family! I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to major in when I first started, and I loved the range of opportunities here at Ohio State. I also think the alumni network is amazing!  

What classes did you enjoy the most? 

The classes I have enjoyed the most are my major courses that relate to writing and design and any class I have taken with Tom Stewart.  

What student organizations have you been involved in and what roles did you hold within those organizations? How were these organizations beneficial to your collegiate experience? 

During my time at the university, I have been involved in peer mentoring for the university exploration program, a mentor for Ohio Youth Capital Challenge, am the current sales manager for the AgriNaturalist student-produced magazine and was also a student representative during my study abroad program in Perugia, Italy!  

These roles have made me become more independent, well-rounded, and have improved my leadership skills. I found that because of these positions, I have created a portfolio for myself that reflects both my goals as a student and as a professional.  

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

I completed two internships during my time here. The first was a role as a communications assistant at The Chillicothe County Club. I worked closely with their staff to design flyers for events, manage social media accounts, and adequately communicate to members. My second was a communications and marketing internship at The Perennial Homestead, in Omaha, Nebraska, where I worked to improve consumer outreach and interaction by creating blog posts, sourcing local ingredients for their products, designed merchandise, thank you cards, and recipe templates to align with their branding goals.  

Both these positions made me realize how much I enjoy marketing and communications in the field of food and agriculture. In both opportunities, I saw how local businesses operated first-hand, which made me realize how important supporting local and small-scale is. Now as I start my job search, I hope to find a similar role to the ones I had during my internship experiences.  

What do you plan to do after graduation?  

I am not 100% sure, but I hope to have a marketing/communications/writing role that works closely with the greater Columbus community. I could see myself working with extension, community outreach, and marketing/design as a whole – of course related to food, agriculture, and the environment! 

What stands out as your best college memory? 

My best college memory has been the conversations I had with my professor Tom Stewart! Tom has helped me so much over the years in terms of preparing for “the real world”, job searching, portfolio/resume prep, and simply enjoying life and my time here at Ohio State!  

 What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

I would tell myself that even though the COVID-19 pandemic made it seem like my time in college was going to be spent fully virtually, you would persevere as the world came back together and have a great time at university (in-person!!!) and even get the chance to study abroad! 

2023 Outstanding Senior: Maddie Coppel

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Maddie Coppel, an agricultural communication major from Chillicothe, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Maddie’s Ohio State experience below.

Alexis Howell: Master’s Project Defense


Join us in congratulating Alexis Howell on the successful defense of her master’s project “From Student to Teacher: Agricultural Experience Tracker Workshops for Early Career Field Teachers.” 

Alexis was advised by Dr. Amanda Bowling, assistant professor of agriscience education. Dr. Caryn Filson, associate professor in agriscience education, served as her committee member.  

Congratulations, Alexis! 

2023 Outstanding Senior: Claire Meyer

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 12 students to the 2023 class of ACEL Outstanding Seniors. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. Claire Meyer, an agricultural communication major from Wilmington, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2023.

Read about Claire’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major? 

I chose my major because I knew I wanted to promote the stories of individuals in the agriculture industry. I grew up on a grain farm in Northwest Ohio and was always in awe of how hard my parents and grandparents worked. I wanted to have the tools to share stories like theirs to others.  

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 

Ohio State was always my dream school growing up. There really wasn’t anywhere else I really wanted to go. My dad is an alumni of the university and CFAES, so I grew up in a Scarlet and Grey household. There were many Saturday’s in the fall dedicated to buckeye football. 

What classes did you enjoy the most? 

The classes I have enjoyed the most have been the Publication Design and Production class with Dr. Specht, the Campaign Design class with Tom Stewart and the AgriNaturalist class. All these classes have done an amazing job preparing me for a future career in communication and shown me parts of the industry that I really enjoy.  

What student organizations have you been involved in (locally and nationally) and what roles did you hold within those organizations (if applicable)? How were these organizations beneficial to your collegiate experience? 

As an undergraduate I have been a member of several clubs and organizations on campus. I joined the Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority in the Fall of my freshman year and have been an active member ever since. I have held various positions over the last couple of years. I was a Co-Chair for the Young Leaders Conference Committee in the Fall of 2020 and Spring of 2021 and in the Spring of 2021, I was elected as First Vice President for the chapter. 

Additionally, I have been an active member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Club, where I currently serve as the treasurer, and I have been a member of the Agribusiness Club since my 1st year at Ohio State.  

These organizations really gave me the opportunity to make connections within the industry and build/refine skills I might not have been able to in the classroom.  

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? How were they impactful in figuring out your career path? 

I had three internships as an undergraduate and they have each taught me something different about where I want my career path to take me.  

This past summer I interned with the Wood County Fair Board as their Communications Intern. I had the opportunity to run their Facebook page all summer and during the week of the fair. I also created banners and advertisements that helped promote events around the fairgrounds. This internship was helpful because it really solidified what I wanted to do in my career and helped me make connections with industry professionals back home that I wouldn’t have before.  

The summer after my junior year I interned with AgCredit, ACA as an Administrative Intern out of their Fostoria, OH office. While here I helped with various departments. I worked on market prospect data, social media content creation, and different events the association puts on throughout the summer. Through this internship I realiize I really liked working in the ag lending sector. I wasn’t really interested in the financial and loan side of things, but I really enjoyed the marketing, HR, and operations side of an ag lending firm.  

The summer after my freshman year I was an Agronomy Intern with Mid-Wood Inc. in Cygnet, OH. I worked with customers by helping diagnose weed and pest issues in their fields and assisting in the creation of fertilizer and chemical application programs to address those problems.  

What do you plan to do after graduation? (If you don’t have anything planned yet, THAT IS TOTALLY OK!!!!!)  

I am hoping to work within the marketing and communications sector of the agriculture industry.  

What stands out as your best college memory? 

Honestly, my best memories in college have been made in these last couple of months as a senior. Working on the AgriNaturalist with a bunch of people I started in the FAES Learning Community freshman year with and finishing out my last semester as an Active member of Sigma Alpha have really given me a chance to reminisce on the last four years and finish out my last semester with some of my best friends.  

What advice would you give to the freshman version of yourself? 

The biggest piece of advice I would give the freshman version of myself is to not be afraid to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. I wish I had made more of an effort my freshman year to do just that.  

Thomas awarded NAFB scholarship

Sarah Thomas, a master’s student in agricultural communication, education, and leadership, was presented the Farmakis Scholarship by the NAFB Foundation at the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention recently held in Kansas City, MO.

Since 1977, the NAFB Foundation has provided financial support and educational opportunities in the form of college scholarships to assist students in pursuit of careers in agricultural communication. More than $545,750 in scholarships have been awarded.

“I am proud of Sarah for receiving this scholarship,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL). “Sarah continues to be a positive representation of our department. Her academic record and student involvement made her an excellent candidate for this scholarship.”

Each year, the convention brings together agricultural industry leaders and professionals, as well as students focused on the agriculture industry. It’s an opportunity to connect with industry peers, brush up on professional skills, and learn more about opportunities and challenges impacting the U.S. farmer and rancher.

Thomas is a second-year master’s student focusing on agricultural communication. She holds a bachelor of science in dairy science from Virginia Tech University. She is a native of Silk Hope, North Carolina.

Students in the ACEL graduate program at Ohio State may specialize in agricultural communication, agricultural education, community and extension education, international development, or leadership. The agricultural communication, education, and leadership graduate program offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science, Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy degree prepares students for careers as administrators, specialists, university faculty and researchers.