The agInnovation community gathered at its 2024 Annual Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 25th to honor the recipients of its annual Excellence Awards. Congratulations to all awardees!
(all images courtesy of Charles Dickens Photography)

Above: Group photo of all agInnovation meeting attendees and award winners.
Above: agInnovation Chair George Smith (left), Michigan State University introduced Faith Peppers (right), Director Of Communications at USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, who presided over the ceremony.
NATIONAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AWARDS

Elias Quiñonez, Colorado State University, accepts the individual award for National Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

L-R: George Smth, Elias Quiñonez, Kevin Kephart (USDA-NIFA), Rubella Goswami (USDA-NIFA) presenting the individual award.

Tracy Dougher, on behalf of the Indigenous Pathways In Agriculture Program, Montana State University, accepts the group award for National Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

L-R: George Smth, Tracy Dougher (on behalf of the Indigenous Pathways in Agriculture team), Kevin Kephart (USDA-NIFA), Rubella Goswami (USDA-NIFA) presenting the group award.
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARDS
(Above Clockwise from top left, and below) Jewel Bronaugh-Association of 1890s Research Directors/1890 Universities Foundation, Steve Lommel-Southern Region/North Carolina State University, Matt Wilson-Northeast Region/West Virginia University, Mark McGuire-Western Region/University of Idaho accept awards for Excellence in Leadership. (Not pictured: Karen Plaut-North Central Region/Purdue University.)
EXCELLENCE IN MULTISTATE RESEARCH AWARDS
Above: The 2024 National Excellence in Multistate Research Award was presented to NCERA101 Controlled Environment Technology and Use (North Central Region). Other regional recipients were: NE2334 Genetic Bases for Resistance and Immunity to Avian Diseases (North East), W4045 Agrochemical Impacts on Human and Environmental Health: Mechanisms and Mitigation (West), and S1089 Advanced Understanding of Pollutants in Critical Landscapes in Watersheds.
RESEARCH INNOVATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

The inaugural National agInnovation Research Innovation Award of Excellence was presented to Barbara Valent, Kansas State University (North Central Region)


At left: Salina Parveen, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES) accepts the Research Innovation Award of Excellence from the Association of 1890s Research Directors (ARD). Below: Salina Parveen is joined by Moses Kairo, UMES Dean and Director, and Alton Thompson, ARD Executive Director.

Below: At left, Sreekala Bajwa, Montana State University accepts the Western Region award on behalf of Blake Wiedenheft (Montana State). At right, Gary Thompson, Executive Director agInnovation-South accepts the Southern Region Award on behalf of Michael Strand, University of Georgia.
NIFA PARTNERS

agInnovation is grateful for the participation and involvement of our USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture partners throughout the 2024 annual meeting. Pictured above: Megan O'Rourke, Rubella Goswami, Kevin Kephart, Faith Peppers.
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