LSC Scholarship and Donor Recognition Reception Celebrates Student Ambition, Opportunity and Community

LSC Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Kaiping Chen stands with (from left to right) Manzur Maswood, Dayeon Eom, Erika Zhu, Parker Smith and Bruno Castro Lacerda, graduate and PhD students who were awarded scholarships at this year’s ceremony.

From studying public health in Denmark to conducting research in the Pan-Amazon region, students in the Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC) are using scholarship support to expand what’s possible in their academic and professional careers. The department celebrated 25 student scholars and the donors who support them at the 2026 LSC Scholarship & Donor Recognition Reception on April 23 at the Pyle Center. Family, friends, faculty, alumni and donors gathered to recognize student achievement and the impact donor support continues to have on future science communicators. Held annually, the reception honors scholarships awarded for the upcoming academic year while bringing students and donors together to celebrate mentorship, leadership and community within LSC. “This support allows me to fully engage in opportunities like the National Agri-Marketing Association competition, where I lead a team in developing a real-world marketing plan,” said Lauren Breunig, recipient of the NAMA Marketing Leader Scholarship. “Through this experience, I am strengthening my leadership and communication skills while applying what I’ve learned in the classroom.” Many students shared how scholarships are helping make research, internships, travel and professional development opportunities more accessible. Nathan Buckley, recipient of the Larry R. Meiller Scholarship, said the award will support his study abroad experience in Copenhagen this summer, where he plans to apply science communication skills while learning about public health systems in Denmark. For doctoral student Bruno Castro Lacerda, scholarship funding will help make international fieldwork possible. “This generous financial support will go a long way in funding my upcoming research,” Castro Lacerda said. “It provides vital assistance for my fieldwork this August in the Pan-Amazon region, helping make my data collection in Brazil and Peru a reality.” LSC professor Dr. Mike Xenos emceed the reception alongside keynote speaker and LSC alumna Stephanie Hoff. “It is important for us to remember that all of these scholarships and awards are made possible because of the generous support of our donors,” Xenos said. “We are fortunate to honor their generosity by supporting a new generation of students each year.” Thanks to support from donors, alumni, faculty and friends of the department, outstanding LSC students received scholarships recognizing academic achievement, leadership and contributions to science communication.

LSC alum, Stephanie Hoff (‘19), gives a keynote talk at the 2026 Scholarship Reception.

Keynote speaker Stephanie Hoff reflected on the role scholarships and mentorship played in her own academic and professional journey. Hoff graduated from LSC in 2019 and now works as a farm broadcaster for Mid-West Family of Companies. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Hoff said the sense of community she found in LSC helped shape her career path and encouraged students to lean on the relationships and support systems they build throughout their time in the department. Throughout the evening, students connected with donors and shared how scholarship support continues to shape their futures — from advancing research and strengthening leadership skills to pursuing careers in agriculture, health communication and environmental education.

2025–26 Scholarships and Awardees

  • Robert Bjorklund Scholarship – Laniya Hinton, Evan Loftus, Alicia Lopez, Emma Peterschmidt, Kai Stielow
  • Lloyd & Genevieve Bostian Scholarship – Alicia Lopez, Anna Singh
  • Farm Journal/Andy Weber Ag Media Awards – Jordan Berg, Allison Hayden
  • Jean W. Fewster Scholarship – Dayeon Eom, Erika Zhu
  • Brian Howell Scholarship – Steven Nadeau, Laila Smith
  • William and Cynthia Kennedy Family Scholarship – Mary Knoelke
  • Lenore Landry Internship – Olivia Nygaard
  • Frank Lessiter Ag Media Scholarship – Jenna Kudrna
  • Nellie McCannon Scholarship – Dayeon Eom, Manzur Maswood, Parker Smith, Erika Zhu
  • Larry R. Meiller Scholarship – Nathan Buckley, Olivia Nygaard
  • NAMA Marketing Leader Scholarship – Lauren Breunig
  • NAMA President Scholarship – Anna Martin
  • John E. and Elizabeth B. Ross Science Writing Scholarship – Sophie Pezzani, Mahika Prasad, Ella Timm
  • Thomas P. and Gail G. Schomisch Scholarship – Kai Stielow
  • Jean A. Shipman Scholarship – Bruno Castro Lacerda, Manzur Maswood
  • Claire H. Sink Scholarship – Parker Smith
  • W. Watt Agricultural Journalism Memorial Scholarship – Ila Keyzer
  • Maurice E. and Grace Witter White Scholarship – Bruno Castro Lacerda
— Written by: Catie Stumpf, LSC Lenore Landry Intern Published: May 2026