Whitney Crossland – Hemphill-Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award. An expert in animal health and nutritional systems, she is an assistant professor of animal nutrition in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences. One of her teaching goals has been to develop a high impact, interactive course that allows students to tour cattle operations throughout Texas to gain a holistic perspective of the multi-faceted beef cattle production chain. Her research broadly focuses on beef cattle health and nutrition. Her work has featured antibiotic alternatives for the control of liver abscesses in the feedlot. She joined the Texas Tech faulty in 2018. Crossland received her doctorate in ruminant nutrition from Texas A&M University.

Kristin Hales – Texas Tech Parents Association Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award - STEM disciplines. A nationally-recognized USDA expert in ruminant nutrition and beef cattle energetics, Hales is the Thorton Distinguished Chair within the Department of Animal & Food Sciences. Her doctorate in animal science is from Texas Tech. Recent honors for Hales include being named a 'Top 3 Reviewer' for the Journal of Animal Science (2016); a 'Top 10 Reviewer' for the Journal of Animal Science (2015); and an Outstanding Early Career Research Award from the Midwest Section-American Society of Animal Science (2019).

Courtney Meyers – Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award. Meyers is a professor and graduate studies coordinator within Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. Recent honors include a Fulbright Scholar Award, President's Academic Achievement Award, and recognition as an American Association for Agricultural Education Fellow. She also received a Texas Tech's Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award, President's Excellence in Teaching Award, and was named a Texas Tech Integrated Scholar. Meyers, who joined the Texas Tech faculty in 2008, received her doctorate in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida.

Martina Martin – Student Academic & Leadership Award. A senior agricultural education major from Franklin, Martin was selected as a member of the second cohort of Davis College's Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement, and worked in the University Student Housing as a Community Adviser & Housing Ambassador. She has been active in campus organizations, including Raiders Helping Others, Collegiate FFA and the Residence Halls Association. She's currently working as a student teacher in the Canyon Independent School District. “Martina consistently performs at the highest academic level,” noted AEC Professor John Rayfield.