Delaney Foster, M.S.
Every year, two graduate students in the Department of Plant and Soil Science — one MS and one Ph.D. — are presented with the Tereshkovich-Pilgrim Outstanding Graduate Student Awards, named to recognize two families who have long been supporters of TTU graduate scholarships. The awards honor students who have not only completed their degree, but who have also achieved a level of excellence in their research, scholarship, and recognition that sets them apart in their field.
The winner of the 2022 Outstanding Master's Graduate Student Award is Delaney Foster, who obtained her master's degree in Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in crop protection.
“Delaney is an excellent researcher and communicator, and a true team-player,” said Peter Dotray, Foster's faculty advisor.
During her time at Texas Tech, Foster had success in numerous research competitions and served in leadership roles for national graduate student organizations. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee, where she is studying auxin-resistant Palmer amaranth in west Tennessee.
Irish Pabuayon, Ph.D.
The winner of the 2022 Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Student Award is Irish Pabuayon. Throughout her plant and soil science doctoral degree with a track in crop science, she was involved in research projects that focused on crop physiology, irrigation management, and resource partitioning in modern cotton cultivars.
“She has always demonstrated an impressive combination of independence and teamwork during her time as a graduate student,” said Glen Ritchie, Pabuayon's faculty advisor. “Dr. Pabuayon has been a leader in PSS as a dedicated researcher, collaborator, and writer throughout her Ph.D. research.”