The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Jasmine Mabry, an agriscience education major from Camden, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Jasmine’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?
I wanted to find a career that would allow me to combine my purpose, which is to serve others and my passion for the agricultural industry. In high school, I watched my Agricultural Educator serve other students, as well as myself in many ways. From ensuring students had the funds to attend various trips, to always providing a safe space for students to interact and be themselves.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I chose to attend Ohio State because of all of the opportunities the university had to offer. Opportunities such as professional development and networking events, and to engage in organizations that would help me to grow. I knew that no other college could offer me the types of opportunities that Ohio State had to offer, and that was what ultimately led me to choosing Ohio State. However, Ohio State had also always been my dream school (who wouldn’t want to be a buckeye?), so there was really no doubt in my mind.

What classes did you enjoy the most?
The class I enjoyed the most was Oral Expression in Agriculture with Mr. Tom Stewart. Not only was the class fun, but it also taught me a lot about the importance of proper communication, especially within the agricultural industry. Other classes that I enjoyed include Methods of Teaching 2, Ecology of Managed Plant Systems, and Metal Fabrication for Agriculture.

What student organizations were you involved in and what roles did you hold?
I was involved in Agricultural Education Society where I served as Programming Chair (2019), CFAES Representative (2020), and Vice President (2021). I was also in Alpha Sigma Upsilon where I served as the Service Chair (2020), Banquet/Founders Day Chair (2020), Risk Managment and Harm Reduction Chair (2021-2022), Social Chair (2021-2022), Formal Chair (2022), and President (2021) over my four years at Ohio State. I was also involved in Towers Agricultural Honorary, where I served as the 2021 CFAES Representative for the organization. Another organization I was involved in is the OSU Turf Club, which I served as the 2021-2022 Treasurer and Reporter for. I also was involved in the CFAES Celebration of Students Planning Committee, where I was a member of the Image Committee in 2021 and 2022. Lastly, I was involved in the CFAES Peer Mentor program and served as a CFAES Peer Mentor in 2019-2021.

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern?
During the summer of 2019 I completed an internship with the Turfgrass STEM Camp. I served as a camp counselor and I was responsible for planning activities, leading activities, ensuring the safety and well-being of campers at all times, and observing campers to ensure they stay on track. I completed my Early Field Experience in autumn of 2019. During this internship I was responsible for assisting with instruction and supervision of students in a high school classroom. I completed this experience at Highland high school. In the spring of 2022, I completed my Student Teaching. During this experience I was responsible for creating and teaching lessons to various classes. These classes included Livestock Selection, Nutrition and Management, Agricultural Food and Natural Resources, Agricultural Business and Mechanical Principles. I completed this 13-week experience at Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
I will be attending graduate school at the University of Tennessee.

What stands out as your best college memory?
While there are so many memories that stand out to me, meeting my best friends has to be the one that stands out the most to me. My freshman year of college I met three girls in the CFAES Learning Community, and they have stuck with me since that day, and they will stand next to me as I get married in 2023. The man I am marrying in 2023 is also someone I met during my freshman year of college. In meeting him I discovered agricultural greek life at Ohio State, the Turfgrass industry, and met many more people who would become great friends.

How did the pandemic impact your college experience?
The pandemic made my college experience a lot more difficult. I was already an extreme introvert before the pandemic, but due to the pandemic I became even more of an introvert. It was very difficult for me to engage in any experiences in which I had to be social after that. One thing I missed due to the pandemic was getting to be President of Alpha Sigma Upsilon during a normal year. Half of my year as President was spent via zoom, and the other half we were very limited on what we could do in person.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Nicole McMullen, an agriscience education major from Holland, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Nicole’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major? 
I choose agriscience in education because I would like to help students reach their full potential.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State? 
I chose to attend Ohio State because of the various opportunities for personal and professional growth.

What classes did you enjoy the most? 
The classes I enjoyed the most were the ones offered by Ohio State ATI. They were small, hands on, and the professors with real world experience.

What student organizations were you involved in and what leadership role did you hold?

• Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)
  • Member
• Agriculture Future of America
  • Student Advisory Team Member (Dec 2020-Dec 2021)
• AFA Leader Fellow (June 2019-Current)
  • Delegate AFA Leader’s Conference (2018, 2019, 2020)

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern? 

• Deere & Company
  • Customer Product Support and Marketing and Sales | May 2021-Aug 2021
    • Create a 5 minute dealer best practice video
    • Research and strategize to improve dealer showrooms for Deere & Co.
  • Marketing and Sales | June 2020-Aug 2020
    • Create a calendar of over 80 limited production build(LPB) equipment and 12 employees to plan for various events
    • Schedule meetings for LPB equipment dealers in both US and Canada and Deere’s field team
• Early Field Experience | Archbold High School | Aug 2019 – Dec 2019
• Student Teaching | Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo | Jan 2022-April 2022
  • Created and executed lessons for Zoo & Aquarium and Animal Science & Technology courses.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
I plan to enter Deere & Company’s Marketing and Sales Development Program.

What stands out as your best college memory? 
My best college memory is attending the 2019 Region V MANRRS Conference. This was my first event I had participated in with MANRRS. I placed 1st in the Impromptu Speech and earned an internship with Deere & Company for the following summer.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Mallary Caudill, an agricultural communication major from DeGraff, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Mallary’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?
I knew I wanted to study agricultural communication because I loved the creativity and writing component of the major and that I could connect it to the agriculture and natural resources industry.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I came from a family of buckeyes and Buckeye fans. I knew becoming part of the Ohio State network would be a great opportunity and experience.

What classes did you enjoy the most?
I was a nerd for Leah Curtis’s AGRCOMM 4530- Communicating Agricultural Issues, and of course, the senior capstone, AgriNaturalist class.

What student organizations were you involved in and what roles did you hold within those organizations?
I was active in Collegiate Farm Bureau at Ohio State and served in officer positions and Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern?
I interned for Ohio Corn & Wheat, and Inspire PR Group. I participated in communication and policy projects for OCW and tagged along on several agricultural clients for Inspire.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
I don’t know yet, but I am excited to have a career in the agriculture field in communications or policy relations.

How did the pandemic impact your college experience? Is there anything you missed because of it?
Like everyone, I lost out on all kinds of opportunities as a college student, since more than half of my time as a student has been during the pandemic. However, I think what I missed out on the most was not the prestigious award and recognition opportunities but the times I said “oh I will just do that later, or next year, etc” as an underclassman, and then that experience wasn’t presented again.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Madilyn Youngpeter, an agricultural communication major from Findlay, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Madilyn’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?
When I started at Ohio State, I did not have a full grasp on what I wanted to major in. Thanks to some awesome professors at ATI and taking some agricultural communications classes, I realized what I was learning aligned with my passions so things started falling into place. I love my major and all the possibilities that are available to me.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I moved close to ATI so I figured I would apply there while transferring from my previous college. I honestly went in not knowing much about the school or offerings but instantly fell in love.

What classes did you enjoy the most?
My intro to Ag.Comm class with Mrs. Ramsier, she is so fun and is passionate about what she teaches and that reflects into us, Shari Peart, she helped me and so many others get over our fears of public speaking in speech class. On main campus, I loved Tom Stewarts PR class and Dr. Specht’s design class.

What student organizations were you involved in and did you hold any leadership roles?
Growing up I took all sorts of livestock and still projects in 4H, including horses, dogs, sheep, photography, cooking and more. I was a part of Junior Fairboard, was my county fair princess, and was a part of our judging and hippology teams. At Ohio State, I am a part of Towers Agricultural Honorary, where we do service projects across Franklin County and central Ohio.

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern?
I was fortunate to have one internship with the Youth Equestrian Development Association (YEDA). I interned my whole junior year and was able to come back this year. I do social media, help at shows and work anywhere I am needed.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
I would love to get into a career in branding, marketing, or public relations. All three things interest me as I love working with people to make ideas come to life.

What stands out as your best college memory?
Probably all the times I had at ATI, unless you went there, you would not understand how close we were and the crazy happenings and inside jokes.

How did the pandemic impact your college experience? Is there anything you missed because of it?
The pandemic impacted essentially my whole Ohio State experience. I came in as a transfer sophomore fall of 2019, completed my first semester at ATI and was halfway through my second semester when the world shut down. I missed out my whole junior year due to things being online, and fast forward to this past fall semester when I started my senior year, first semester in Columbus, and first in person classes in almost two years. I feel like I missed so many traditions because of COVID happening right in the middle of my transition to Columbus. While it was tough, thankfully the professors and faculty members at both campuses were extremely helpful and made the process as smooth as it could be.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Maddy Schupp, an agricultural communication major from New Philadelphia, Ohio, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Maddy’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?
I experienced the gap between farmers and consumers after educating a large array of consumers about the pork industry as the Tuscarawas County Pork Queen while I was in high school. I feel consumers should have confidence and understanding of the products they purchase at the grocery store. I choose the Agricultural Communications major to help consumers understand agricultural practices and production.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I chose to start my college career at Ohio State ATI in Wooster, Ohio which allowed me to start college close to home on a smaller hands-on campus. I fell in love with the ATI campus after competing in livestock judging contests and numerous college tours in high school. ATI offered the transition between high school and college that I needed prior to attending Ohio State’s Columbus campus.

What classes did you enjoy the most?
After taking a wide array of course at Ohio State some of my favorites included sales classes, public speaking classes, and graphic design. But never be scared to try something new with an elective, I truly enjoyed Barbque Science and Yoga.

What student organizations were you involved in and what roles did you hold within those organizations?
During my time at The Ohio State University, I was a member of the Sisterhood Committee of the Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority. In addition, I was a member of the Meat Science Club where I served as the secretary. I was also able to volunteer as on Project Advisor for the Valley Showstoppers 4-H Club in Tuscarawas County.

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern?
Last summer I completed a Sales and Marketing internship with Schlessman Seed company in Milan, Ohio. With this internship, I was able to enhance my knowledge in seed and crop production by managing research plots and working alongside their salesmen. During my internship, I was able to design the cover of their seed catalog and field day invitations. My internship allowed me to apply skills taught within my courses to real life.

What stands out as your best college memory?
I had so many wonderful memories throughout my college career, but meeting my fiancee will always be my favorite memory.

How did the pandemic impact your college experience? Is there anything you missed because of it?
The pandemic had a large impact on the end of my college experience, but it definitely changes my outlook on life. You never know what tomorrow will bring, so dont wait until tomorrow to do the things you could do today. I missed out on many irreplaceable in-person college and experiences on the Columbus campus.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Ashley Garlick, an agriscience education major, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Ashley’s Ohio State experience below.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Abby David, a community leadership major, was chosen as an ACEL Outstanding Senior.

Read about Abby’s Ohio State experience below.

Why did you choose your major?
I chose my major because I realized my passion was to help build better communities. My community has done so much for me and has substantially influenced my life, so I want to be a person that can lead, love, and be a part of a community like my own. Also, I love helping and educating people, being a leader, and loved growing up in my county’s 4-H program, all of which made this major an obvious choice for me.

Why did you choose to attend Ohio State?
I chose to attend Ohio State for both the agricultural program and the ample opportunities it offered me. A lot of my family has also attended Ohio State for agriculture, so it was nice to be a part of that tradition.

What classes did you enjoy the most?
The classes I enjoyed the most were History of Rock and Roll, Amish Society, and my community development courses. I enjoyed being able to explore concepts I already loved and apply them academically, while also learning so much more. I was always excited to go to these lectures! My community development courses in particular sparked my passions and have influenced where I plan to head in my life.

What student organizations were you involved in?
I was involved with the Agricultural Education Society (AES) and Collegiate 4-H. In AES, I was the Education and Outreach chairman for a year, and then became the club’s reporter. I also became an Exploration Peer Mentor this past semester and participated in athletic band, university band, and university chorus throughout my years here.

What internships did you complete and what were your responsibilities/projects as an intern?
I completed an internship with the Ohio Sea Grant in my county. I mostly observed during my time there, but helped with projects such as making a boating video, being a part of a documentary, electrofishing at Stone Lab, and participating in a beach cleanup. I was also given opportunities to teach lessons at Stone Lab and at a middle school summer program.

What do you plan to do after graduation?
My plan for graduation is to apply for AmeriCorps positions in Michigan, Ohio, or West Virginia, particularly focused on food security and farming non-profits. Once I have more hands-on experience through AmeriCorps, I will attend graduate school to complete a master’s degree.

What stands out as your best college memory?
My best college memory is when my friend and I got last minute tickets to see Fleetwood Mac! I had to go to concerts for my History of Rock and Roll class, so we both took the opportunity to see this legendary band. It felt like we could almost fall out of the seats because they were so high up, but it was so worth it. Best concert I’ve been to!

How did the pandemic impact your college experience?
The pandemic mostly made it harder to make close friends and explore the city, but I am still very thankful for the time I had. I think I missed out on going to more concerts and big events that could have been very fun.

The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) has named 13 students to the 2022 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. Joanna Frankenberg, an agricultural communication major, was named as one of ACEL’s Outstanding Seniors for 2022.

Read about Joanna’s Ohio State experience below.