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The Honor Society of Agriculture

South Dakota Chapter

The mission of the South Dakota Chapter of the Honor Society of Agriculture (Gamma Sigma Delta) is to promote and recognize high standards of scholarship and achievement in all branches of agricultural science and education. This mission is accomplished by:

  • Recognizing high standards of scholarship and leadership in agriculture and related sciences.
  • Encouraging high quality achievement, professional ethics and service of those entering into and working in agricultural and related sciences.
  • Rendering service that will promote understanding of the agricultural sectors.
New Initiates 2021: Front row:  J. Chang (faculty), Shayanti Ming (graduate student), Ruchika Kashyap (graduate student), Mary Nold (undergraduate), Johnna Jorgensen (graduate student) Adalaide Klein (graduate student), Taylor Andrews (graduate student) 2nd row:  Ryan Samuel (faculty), Lydia Meredith (undergraduate), Alex Kelly (graduate student), Shannon Dierking (graduate student), Sadie VanderWal (undergraduate), Murray Perkins (undergraduate)
2021 New Initiates. Front row: J. Chang (faculty), Shayanti Ming (graduate student), Ruchika Kashyap (graduate student), Mary Nold (undergraduate), Johnna Jorgensen (graduate student) Adalaide Klein (graduate student), Taylor Andrews (graduate student)
2nd row: Ryan Samuel (faculty), Lydia Meredith (undergraduate), Alex Kelly (graduate student), Shannon Dierking (graduate student), Sadie VanderWal (undergraduate), Murray Perkins (undergraduate)

Officers

  • President: Srinivas Janaswamy
  • Vice President: Crystal Levesque
  • Secretary: Johnna Jorgensen
  • Treasurer: Sandy Smart
  • Historian: Vacant
  • Past President: Rosie Nold
  • Webmaster: Madhav Nepal

Gamma Sigma Delta 2022 Awardees

  • Faculty and Staff Awards

2022 GSD Research Award: Dr. Lin Wei, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
GSD Research Award: Dr. Lin Wei, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

 

2022 GSD Teaching Award: Dr. Kyle Grubbs, Department of Animal Science
GSD Teaching Award: Dr. Kyle Grubbs, Department of Animal Science

2022 GSD Extension Award: Dr. John McMaine, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
GSD Extension Award: Dr. John McMaine, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

2022 Honorary Service Award: Dr. Van Kelley, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Honorary Service Award: Dr. Van Kelley, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

2022 Distinguished Alumnus: Leon Wrage, Distinguished Professor of Plant Science Emeritus, Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Sciences
Distinguished Alumnus: Leon Wrage, Distinguished Professor of Plant Science Emeritus, Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Sciences

Complete Gamma Sigma Delta Awards & Recognition List

Student Poster Awards

Undergraduate Category

NameDepartmentFaculty Mentor
Dana Edleman, 1stDairy and Food ScienceClifford Hall
Sadie Vander Wal, 2ndAnimal ScienceRosie Nold
Emily Cole, 3rdDairy and Food SciencePrafulla Sulanke

Graduate Category (M.S.)

NameDepartmentFaculty Mentor
Hannah Miller, 1stAnimal ScienceCrystal Levesque
Sheetal Jha, 2ndDairy and Food ScienceSanjeev Anand
Kritika Gaba, 3rdDairy and Food ScienceSanjeev Anand

Graduate Category (Ph.D.)

NameDepartmentFaculty Mentor
Ahmad Alhomodi, 1stBiology and MicrobiologyBishnu Karki
Harsimardeep Gill, 2ndAgronomy, Horticulture and Plant ScienceSunish Sehgal
Prakriti Sharma, 3rdAgricultural and Biosystems EngineeringAnne Fennell

Award Descriptions and Nominations

  • Faculty Award for Teaching
    • Innovative methods for teaching and student engagement.
    • Excellence in academic advising.
    • Accomplishment in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL).
    • Mentorship of undergraduate students in research projects (outreach, research, etc.).
    • Teaching diverse audiences and/or creating an appreciation for diversity within the classroom.
  • Faculty Award for Research
    • Innovative research pursuit or advancement of the field.
    • Successful grantsmanship.
    • Excellence in refereed journal articles or other scholarly output or broader impacts.
    • Special recognition for research (invited presentations, student awards, etc).
  • Faculty Award for Extension/Service
    • Development of a signature outreach/education program.
    • Significant contributions to dissemination (Extension and other scholarly publications).
    • Reaching diverse audiences and/or establishment of learning communities.
  • Honorary Service Award
    • This award recognizes a person in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences who demonstrates significant contributions to accomplish the missions of CAFES.
    • Support for the GSD mission in South Dakota.
  • Nominations are due April 1 and include:
    • One page nomination letter highlighting the achievements of the individual
    • An appropriate vita of no more than four pages documenting the contributions of the individual in their teaching, research, Extension or service
    • One page statement written by the candidate about the category of nomination.

Documents and Forms


National/International Awards

  • Grant Awards

    • GSD International Chapter Enrichment Grant 2016 (funded, lead by Madhav Nepal)
    • GSD International Chapter Enrichment Grant 2015 (funded, lead by Rebecca Bott)
  • Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Awards

    • Dr. Alexander “Sandy” Smart – 2020
    • Dr. Sharon Clay – 2017
  • Chapter Awards

    • Gold Chapter – 2019
    • New Activity Award – 2016
    • Gold Chapter – 2016
    • Silver Chapter – 2015

Webmaster: Madhav Nepal