College Names Winners of Annual Awards

A nutrition and food science professor, a plant science lecturer, an administrative services coordinator, a food science and technology student, and a graduate student were selected for the Huntley College of Agriculture’s annual awards.

Gabriel Davidov-Pardo was named the college’s Mack H. Kennington Advisor of the Year. Davidov-Pardo, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, was cited in particular for his efforts to prepare his students for the conversion from the quarter system to semesters.

“He truly made it his priority to have all students in the department understand the process of switching from a quarter system to a semester system, sending out emails, handing out worksheets, and making it mandatory to have an appointment with him,” one student wrote.

Davidov-Pardo also was praised for his enthusiasm and passion for food science and his commitment to students. He was previously named the college’s 2016-17 Teacher of the Year.

Ben Lehan, a lecturer in the Department of Plant Science, was named the college’s Teacher of the Year. Students said Lehan is very knowledgeable about his classes’ subject matter, and always prepared for his classes, incorporating different teaching methods.

In addition, Lehan encourages students to participate in the class discussion and creates an environment where students aren’t afraid to speak up, a student said.

“He will go the extra mile by staying after class to explain something to his students. He cares about his students so much that during finals week he made time to proof read and correct my 10-page research paper for another class,” one student said. “If anyone deserves it, I think he is the candidate for this award.”

Jenifer Cazares, the administrative support coordinator for the Department of Agribusiness and Food Industry Management/Agricultural Science, was selected for the college’s Staff of the Year Award. Since her 2014 hiring, Cazares has held several positions with numerous responsibilities in the plant science and agribusiness and food industry management departments, and the dean’s office.

“She has always been willing to help others and go the extra mile, even without being asked,” a nominator wrote. “Jenifer has proven highly competent and friendly no matter what role she has been asked to do … Jenifer has earned her position as Staff of the Year many times over.”

Student Mariana Garcia Rocha was selected as the John E. Andrews Student Leadership Award as the undergraduate leader of the year. The Pasadena resident is majoring in food science and technology with a minor in Culinology. She plans to graduate this fall and work in product development or research in development.

Garcia has served in several leadership capacities in the Food Science Society as an undergraduate, including peer mentor, Ag Council representative, vice president, and event coordinator; her experience includes organizing field trips, fundraising activities and community service activities.

This year, she became the student representative of the Southern California Institute of Food Technologists Section’s executive committee.

“Her roles include increasing student membership and coordinating the volunteering activities of over 1,000 students,” a nominator wrote. “This is not an easy role which Mariana is fulfilling flawlessly.”

Rocha will introduce Davidov-Pardo at the university’s advisors of the year event on April 16 in the Bronco Student Center Ursa Minor.

Heidi Holmquist will receive the John E. Andrews Student Leadership Award as the graduate student leader of the year. A Simi Valley native, Holmquist (’17, plant science) is pursuing her master’s degree in agriculture, plant science option.

In her nomination, she was cited for her work as a leader in the Cal Poly Pomona Nursery’s greenhouses at AGRIscapes. Holmquist also has been part of the Los Rancheros plant science club since her undergraduate days; a member of Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity from fall 2014 to her graduation; a member of the American Phytopathological Society since 2017; and was recently invited to join the Gamma Sigma Delta agricultural honor society.

After finishing her master’s degree, she plans to finish her research on the invasive Polyphagous Shothole Borer and then work for a plant pathology diagnostic lab.

The college will recognize the award recipients – including the Julian A. McPhee Outstanding Student Scholar Award for the valedictorian of the graduating class – at its commencement ceremonies on May 18.