College Announces Annual Awards Recipients

A lecturer who exhibits a passion for her teaching and animals. An employee who maintains his composure despite having to take on extra responsibilities. An advisor who encourages and supports her students.

These are just some of the recipients of the Huntley College of Agriculture’s annual awards. 

Teacher of the Year

Animal and Veterinary Science Lecturer Andrea Watson (’19, M.S., agriculture – animal science option) was named the college’s Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year Award is given annually to the faculty member who demonstrates exceptional teaching ability, including subject matter competence, zeal for teaching and caring.

One student who nominated Watson praised the lecturer for her dedication and passion for teaching, even when she had to teach classes over Zoom during the pandemic.

“She was incredibly engaging and exciting. Her presence lights up the room because of her good attitude and love for teaching,” the student wrote. “I have never had a professor with so much passion for what they do and, above all else, she is the sweetest, most kind person you will ever meet … It is extremely evident that she has a passion for teaching and animals.”

Watson began teaching at Cal Poly Pomona in 2019.

Staff of the Year

Beef Unit Manager Efrain Loera (’18, animal science) was selected for the Staff of the Year Award.

The Staff of the Year Award is given to a staff member who assists the learning process, contributes to the department/college/university, and has a zeal for helping faculty, students, or other staff.

Coworkers complimented Loera’s technical competence, work ethic, and professionalism, particularly when he also had to oversee the Sheep and Swine Units on an interim basis. In addition, he has provided valuable assistance to researchers from the animal and veterinary science and biology departments.

“Ethan is a prime example of what it means to be good at your job. Always being able to handle any new conflict he faces with such a composure and ease you’d think he has done it a million times,” one wrote. “With his extensive knowledge in many fields, he is constantly teaching students and me about cattle production and what it means to be a great leader … I amongst many others take comfort and can testify to his kindness, dependability, and exceptional work.”

Loera has worked for Cal Poly Pomona since 2019.

Valedictorian

Candace Downing, a senior animal science major from Los Angeles, is the Julian A. McPhee Scholar of the Year as the college’s valedictorian.

Downing credits her academic success to diligence.

“I made sure I understood the material, even if that meant I had to go in for office hours or email my professors,” she said. “I spent time going over the material with classmates before tests and organizing study groups.”

Although the COVID-19 pandemic limited her hands-on learning experience, Downing said she loved her Cal Poly Pomona experience and described her instructors as wonderful, approachable, and doing their best to make classes enjoyable and accessible.

She plans to attend law school and become an agricultural contract lawyer specializing in equine contracts.

As valedictorian, Downing will have the honor of addressing their fellow students and other guests at commencement.

Advisor of the Year

Associate Professor Olive Li from the Department of Nutrition and Food Science is the Mack H. Kennington Advisor of the Year given to the faculty who does the best quality work in advising students on academics and their career plans.

Students called Li a great source of encouragement and support, both academically and professionally.

“She has improved my self-confidence in my academic ability and encouraged me to apply to several scholarships and a fellowship, which I never thought I was good enough for, and yet I got them all!” one student wrote.

“She was the reason why I decided to minor in food science and technology,” another student wrote. “Without her guidance, I would not have found my love for food science, research, and food in general!”

Li joined Cal Poly Pomona in 2011 after teaching at Tennessee State University. She was named the college’s 2018 Teacher of the Year and serves as the college’s director of research and graduate studies.

The university honored Li and advisors of the year from other colleges at an April 26 reception.

Student Leaders of the Year

The John E. Andrews Student Leader of the Year Award is given each year to an undergraduate and graduate student for scholarship, service, and contributions to others, including fellow students, their departments, the food and agricultural industry, and the community.

Nominees must have been enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona for at least a year (sophomore through graduate standing) and be full-time students.

Jacqueline Thach is the John E. Andrews Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year. A food science and technology student, Thach served as vice president of the Phi Tao Sigma honor society chapter on campus and as the Food Science Society club’s liaison with the American Society of Baking and Research Chefs Association.

“She has performed her role in an impeccable manner, creating a solid bridge between our student club and the Research Chefs Association and American Society of Baking,” one person wrote. “As an example, she is organizing the first-ever sustainable baking competition hosted in our campus.”

In addition, Thach is the leader of a student team that reached the finals of a regional product development competition and is participating in a national contest.

“Jacqueline’s leadership has been without a doubt pivotal in all the success of the teams she has been part of and her peer evaluations have always been impeccable,” they wrote.

Irma Villanueva is the John E. Andrews Graduate Student Leader of the Year. Villanueva, who is pursuing a master’s degree in international apparel management, has made “persistent, significant efforts to develop as a scholar through writing, communication, and diversified research experiences,” according to her instructors.

Her graduate student career has included some remarkable achievements.

She revised a research paper that was a co-author of and submitted it to the Cal Poly Pomona Library Research Awards. The paper, which was entitled “A Content Analysis of 3D Virtual Prototyping and Zero-Waste Design Methods in Apparel Research,” took first place for Best Graduate Project.

In addition, her creative design work, “Salvaging the Value through Scratchboard Etching,” received the Claire Shaeffer Award for Outstanding Marketable Design from the International Textile & Apparel Association. The award recognizes creative wearable designs marketed for today’s consumers.

“These efforts and achievements convey her interest to continue to make scholarly contributions and high potential to be accepted into a doctoral program of her choice in the near future,” Villanueva’s faculty wrote.