K-State Animal Sciences students receive honors

<p>LARRY CORAH GRADUATE STUDENTS: Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry graduate students Zach Duncan and Patricia Ochonski were recognized as 2021 recipients of the Larry Corah Graduate Student Award. Shown here are James Lattimer (left), a K-State ASI professor; Ochonski; Corah; Duncan; and KC Olson, also a K-State ASI professor. The awards honor Corah, a former K-State ASI department Beef Extension and Research specialist, who retired after 25 years at K-State. He then went on to work for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as director of production systems, and then as the Certified Angus Beef LLC vice president of supply. Honorees are selected based on scholastic achievement, research, teaching, faculty evaluation and overall contributions to the mission of the department.</p>

<p>OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL STUDENT: Patricia Ochonski received the Larry Corah Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award for 2021, which includes a $1,500 scholarship. During her time at K-State, she published two original research manuscripts with one more underway, and she served as a graduate teaching associate for ASI 320 for seven semesters. Some of her research in horses, swine and poultry will be published in the Equine Journal of Veterinary Science and Journal of Animal Science. She is completing her doctorate this month.</p>

<p>OUTSTANDING MASTER STUDENT: Zach Duncan received the 2021 Larry Corah Outstanding Master Student Award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship. Duncan completed his undergraduate career at the University of Missouri before coming to K-State to pursue a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition. He is a graduate research assistant, and his work includes studying the effects of prescribed-fire timing on grazing cattle performance, forage biomass accumulation, native plant composition and root carbohydrate concentration. He is currently working on his doctorate, evaluating bunk space requirements for growing beef cattle.</p>

<p>OUTSTANDING SENIOR: Katie Lybarger, Garnett, Kan., was named the 2021 Don and Jane Good Outstanding Senior. While an undergraduate, Lybarger was a member of the 2020 Champion ASI Academic Quadrathlon Team, the 2019 Reserve National Champion Meat Judging Team, the 2020 Meat Evaluation Team and the 2019 Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team. Previously recognized for her excellence, she was awarded the American Meat Science Association Undergraduate Scholastic Achievement Award, the American Society of Animal Science Undergraduate Scholastic Achievement Award, the K-State Meat Judging Vision of Excellence Award, and the Henry C. Gardiner Scholarship. The award recognizes former ASI Department Head Don Good, and honors students who exceed expectations of involvement in the animal science department.</p>

<p>UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS: Six K-State students were awarded the Dr. Mark and Kim Young Undergraduate Research Award and a $1,000 scholarship each. The honorees include: Trace Mulligan (left), senior, Scott City, Kan.; Kate Lewis, freshman, Overland Park, Kan.; Trinity Pfaff, sophomore, Goddard, Kan.; Kathleen Wardman, senior, Winfield, Kan.; Christy Vavra, senior, Wichita, Kan.; and Jasmin Choate, junior, Maize, Kan. At far right is award benefactor Mark Young. The students received their awards during the K-State Animal Sciences and Industry Undergraduate Research Symposium, May 11 at Weber Arena in Manhattan, Kan.</p>

<p>UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: A total of 57 undergraduate students presented research posters May 11 during the K-State Animal Sciences and Industry Undergraduate Research Symposium, on the K-State campus.</p>