Twenty-three students from across Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources have been inducted into Gamma Sigma Delta, a national honor society that recognizes academic achievement and service in agriculture and related disciplines. Nine of this new cohort will be graduating tomorrow, May 16.
Founded in 1913, Gamma Sigma Delta is among the nation’s oldest and most respected honor societies dedicated to agricultural sciences. The organization adopted its current name in 1917 and today includes 52 chapters at universities throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Honduras.
Texas Tech’s chapter, established in 1972, has continued to expand over the years while recognizing some of the college’s top-performing students.
“Our main purpose is to recognize academic excellence and service to agriculture,” said Phil Johnson, the chapter’s faculty advisor and the Charles Thompson Chair of Agricultural Finance in Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics.
Membership in the faculty-governed organization is honorary and is selected from among juniors, seniors, graduate students, alumni and faculty members.
Students inducted this semester include:
- Britton Barnes, a senior natural resources management major from Rockwall, Texas
- Emma Bettencourt, a senior agricultural communications major from Visalia, California.
- Caroline Boysen, a senior animal science major from Alvin, Texas
- Cash Campbell, a senior agricultural and applied economics major from Idalou, Texas
- Berkley Carver, a senior agricultural communications major from Abernathy, Texas
- Wacey Cason, a senior plant and soil science major from Ballinger, Texas
- Rachel Claxton, a senior agricultural education major from North Richland Hills, Texas
- Seth Cope, a senior plant and soil science major from Bowie, Texas
- Cheyene Durheim, a senior animal science major from Spring, Texas
- Kayleigh Griffin, a senior agricultural business major from Uvalde, Texas
- John Guerra, a senior animal science major from San Antonio, Texas
- Brittany Hankins, a senior plant and soil science major from Kemp, Texas
- Rachel Holland, a senior animal science major from Midland, Texas
- Zachary Nelson, a senior landscape architecture major from Richards, Texas
- Hali Newman, a senior plant and soil science major from Roseville, California
- Ashlynn O'Bannion, a senior agricultural communications major from New Braunfels, Texas
- Leigh Ryan, a senior animal science major from Houston, Texas
- Ally Smitley, a senior agricultural communications major from Pasadena, Texas
- Madison Springer, a senior animal science major from Sanford, North Carolina
- Madison Talkington, a senior agricultural business major from San Angelo, Texas
- O'Brien Underwood, a senior animal science major from Mason, Texas
- Michaela White, a senior animal science major from Overton, Texas
- Shelby Wilson, a senior natural resources management major from Lubbock, Texas
Matt Williams, senior director of development for Davis College, noted that members of the Texas Tech chapter established the Gamma Sigma Delta Scholarship Fund in 1988 to support upperclassmen within the college.
The scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate strong academic achievement while exemplifying leadership and the potential for future success in agriculture and natural resources fields.
CONTACT: Phil Johnson, Professor and Charles Thompson Chair, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-0474 or phil.johnson@ttu.edu
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