Each year, Warner College pauses for a moment in the Spring to recognize the outstanding achievements of members of our College Community through the Annual College Awards. We celebrated on April 20, 2026 recognize our 2025 honorees.
2025 College Awards
Undergraduate Research Award
Alexa Luna-Turner, ESS
This award is presented to an undergraduate in Warner College who has demonstrated significant contribution to the college research mission, or who has demonstrated outstanding research achievements.
Outstanding Masters Thesis
Nicki Bailey
This award is presented to a student whose Master’s Thesis exhibits exceptional quality in presentation, approach, and content.
Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation
Eunkyoung Choi, ESS
This award is presented to a student whose PhD dissertation exhibits exceptional quality in presentation, approach, and content.
Outstanding Research Impact Award
Dr. Kevin Bestgen, FWCB
This award is presented to a student whose Master’s Thesis exhibits exceptional quality in presentation, approach, and content.
Outstanding Teaching Assistant
Alexis Foster, HDNR
This award is presented to a student who served as a teaching assistant in one or more classes offered by a member of Warner College during the previous calendar year, for outstanding performance as a teaching assistant.
Outstanding Service Award
Dr. Veronica Yovovich, FWCB, CHCC
This award is presented to a member of Warner College who has demonstrated outstanding service by advancing the college or university mission.
Outstanding Mentorship Award
Dr. Jon Salerno, HDNR
This award is presented to a faculty member in Warner College who has demonstrated exceptional mentorship and advising of undergraduate or graduate students, post-doctoral associates, staff members, or other faculty members.
Warner College Team Award
CEMML AFCEC GIS Team
This award is presented to a team of three or more individuals, the majority of whom are members of Warner College, who have played a highly impactful role in advancing one or more key aspects of the mission of Warner College.
Harry E. Troxell Distinguished Service-to-Students Faculty Award
Dr. Sara Bombaci, FWCB
This award is presented to a faculty member in the Warner College of Natural Resources who has given outstanding service to students. The award seeks to recognize faculty members who stimulate the curiosity of students by motivating and challenging them.
Robert Davis Honor Senior Memorial Award
Jacq Ruhkina, GEO
This award is presented to an outstanding graduating senior in the Warner College of Natural Resources who has attained exceptional academic standing, has demonstrated participation in college activities, and has demonstrated strong potential for future leadership.
Outstanding Administrative Staff Award
Melinda Neiblum, FWCB
This award is presented to a staff member in the Warner College who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and innovation, and an exceptional customer-service ethic in fulfilling their job responsibilities.
Dean’s Award for Excellence to an Early Career Faculty Member
Dr. Joel Correia, HDNR
This award is presented to a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Warner College who has demonstrated exceptional performance in the full breadth of responsibilities expected as a faculty member at Colorado State University, including excellence in research, instruction, and service.
Emeritus Award
Dr. Barry Noon, FWCB
This award is presented to an individual granted emeritus status by Colorado State University affiliated with a Warner College department or program who has an outstanding record of impact during and following their career at CSU in research, scholarship, education, outreach or service.
John P. Hayes Leadership Award
Dr. Tony Cheng, FRS/CFRI
This award is presented to a member of Warner College who has demonstrated outstanding and unselfish leadership that exemplifies the hallmarks of Dean John Hayes’ (Dean, 2014 – 2022) servant leadership approach.
2025 Outstanding Publication Awards
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Steven Fassnacht et al.
Research that has shaped the thinking of mid-career snow hydrologists, HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Geosciences
Ellie Driscoll, Jeremy Rugenstein
Cenozoic stable isotope constraints on the Eurasian continental interior hydroclimate response to high CO2, Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
Jon Salerno, Randall Boone, Rehka Warrier
Rural Migration under climate and land systems change, Nature Sustainability
Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Brian Gerber et al.
When the wild things are: Defining mammalian diel activity and plasticity, Science Advances
Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Camille Stevens-Rumann
Drought as an emergent driver of ecological transformation in the twenty-first century, Bioscience
Natural Resource Ecology Lab
Sarah King, Kate Schoenecker, Mary Cole
Horse affairs: factors affecting reproductive success in a feral polygynous ungulate, Animal Behaviour
2025 Departmental and Student Organization Awards
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
David A. Falletti Memorial
Will Selvidge
Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Eldor Paul Award
Rachel Delorie
Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Rangeland Ecosystem Science Outstanding Senior
Noah Niemeyer
Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Seth Ex Forest Sciences Outstanding Senior
Bransen Mihalko
Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Natural Resources Management Outstanding Senior
Ashley Zwick
Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Restoration Ecology Outstanding Senior
Jacob Yastrow
Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Outstanding Senior
Sarah Veldhuizen
Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Conservation Biology Outstanding Senior
Isabella Butzer
Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Wildlife Biology Outstanding Senior
Christy Fuhrmann
Geosciences
Honor Senior
Jacq Ruhkina
Geosciences
Neal Harr Outstanding Senior
Hari Brogan
Geosciences
Best Field Camp Student
Brennan Stocker
Christina Lindenberg
Geosciences
Outstanding TA
Claire Pickerel
Geosciences
Outstanding MS Thesis
Jorge Espinoza
Geosciences
Citizen of Earth – Undergraduate
Molly Thayer
Geosciences
Citizen of Earth – Graduate
Shayla Triantafillou
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
J.V.K. Wagar Honor Senior
Tori Clark
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
J.V.K. Wagar Honor Senior
Melanie Matthews
2025 College Council Awards
Honored Faculty
Beth Tulanowski
Jamie Dahl
Honored Staff
Ann Randall
Vicki Culbreth
Warner Impact Award
Mark Samolej
Definition of Warner Award
Cynthia Ragland
“Warner Wild Card” Award
Ashley Zwick
Silly Goose Award
Currey Douglas