2022 AECL Scholarships and Awards

Friday, April 15, 2022

STILLWATER, Okla. — More than 80 agricultural education, communications, and leadership students were recognized for their academic achievements, leadership abilities, and campus involvement throughout the fall and spring semesters. The Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership awarded students with more than $150,000 in scholarships.

“Donors give to scholarship programs because they believe in the department, students, and faculty,” said Rob Terry, AECL department head. “I think the gift of hard-earned contributions from our donors is one of the best endorsements we can receive as a department. These funds allow us to build the program to be even better in the future and attract top-notch students, then reward them for their hard work and success.”

Alumni were also recognized for their outstanding achievements in career success and philanthropy. See all the students and alumni awarded below.

Distinguished Alumni

Amy Pierce - Agricultural Communications

Amy J. Pierce graduated in 1996 from OSU with a degree in Agricultural Communications. She then attended Oklahoma City University School of Law, and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in 1999, graduating cum laude. Amy’s legal career has involved representing various parties in all types of civil proceedings. Amy was recently appointed by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma as the first-ever full-time District Court Judge and is the first female District Court Judge for the Nation.

GT Moody - Agricultural Education

GT graduated from OSU with an AGED bachelor's degree in 1984 and a master's degree in 1991. He was the AGED program specialist at Oklahoma Career Tech for 13 years. GT has served as the LifeChurch campus group leader for the last seven years In this role, he oversees 11 campuses in 8 states. He and his wife Megan, have one daughter and four granddaughters. GT is Loyal and True to his Alma Mater, as he is always dressed in something orange.

Shannon Hood - Agricultural Leadership

Shannon has a long history of supporting higher education. She has recently served as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success at Dallas College. In this role, the senior executive administrator and the chief academic officer are responsible for developing and leading highly collaborative teams focused on the execution of operations, achievement of strategic goals, and enhancement.

Shannon Hood

AECL Outstanding Seniors

Kaylyn Branen - AGCM

Kaylyn has been an active member throughout her time at OSU. Some of her involvement includes ACT President, Agricultural Student Academic Mentor for Ferguson College of Agriculture, and Cowboy Journal fact-checker. After graduation, Kaylyn will be working as a Content and Communications Specialist at the National Rural Water Association.

Stephanie Helsen - AGED

Stephanie is a member of the OSU Women's Equestrian Team and plans to finish graduate school and graduate with a Master's in Agricultural Education and Leadership in May of 2023. She then plans to become a secondary agricultural education teacher or work in the Equine industry.

James Hinkel - AGLE

James is the production superintendent of McKee Foods Corporation, Westville Public Schools Board of Education board clerk, and an Impact Holiness Church worship team member. After graduation, James plans to pursue his master's in business administration, and continue building his career with McKee Foods.

AECL Outstanding Fresman

Karstyn Cantrell - AGCM & AGED

Throughout her time at OSU, Karstyn has served in organizations like FTC, FRC, Ferguson Student Council, various clubs, and her Panhellenic sorority, as well as being an Oklahoma State FFA Officer. She plans to pursue higher education, such as law school, and one day advocate for agriculture at a much higher caliber. Serving as an agricultural educator will give her the chance to give back to the industry.

Frannie Yasseri - AGLE

Frannie is a member of the Sorority Alpha Delta Pi and a volunteer at the local humane society. After graduation, Frannie plans to become an environmental auditor within a federal agency.

Early Career Achievement Awardees

Maggie Hoey

Maggie Hoey currently serves as President and CEO of Lindsey House, a Tulsa-area nonprofit organization. In her role, Maggie oversees the day-to-day operations, supervises a team of staff members, and is responsible for oversight, implementation, and evaluation of Lindsey House programs and services. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in public administration from OU-Tulsa.

Brooke Clay Taylor

After working for strategic advertising and brand reputation agencies across the U.S., Brooke launched Rural Gone Urban, a strategic communications boutique agency. She’s the co-founder of Brand Camp: The Workshop, which is dedicated to helping other brands launch successfully. Brooke is the founder of The Rural Gone Urban Foundation, which is dedicated to investing in strong women doing brave things by focusing on scholarships for B and C students, grants for rural business owners, and wild giving to the strongest women of all -- cancer fighters. 

Jillianne Tebow

Jillianne is currently the Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Central Rural Electric Cooperative. She oversees the account services, and marketing and communications departments for a 22,000-meter electric cooperative and its fiber subsidiary, Centranet, LLC. She also serves as a member of the Executive Management Team to assist with strategic planning, setting organizational goals, forecasting, reporting, and measurements.

See the full list of scholarship recipients below!

Herb Karner Scholarship

Hunter Gibson
Bree Kisling

Earnest Shiner Memorial Scholarship

Taylor Dowell

Beth Lilly Memorial Scholarship

Sierra Walter

Amanda Money Memorial Scholarship

Raegan Lockhart

The Wirt Family Scholarship for Agricultural Communications

Karstyn Cantrell
Krista Carroll
Rachel Williamson

The Shannon Webb Denniston Agricultural Communications Scholarship

Camryn Bond

Dr. Alexander Covington Magruder Memorial Scholarship

Sara Howard

Schwabauer Family Scholarship

Ellie Fly
Elizabeth Perdue
Jillian Remington

Agricultural Communications Alumni Scholarship

Emily Lencioni
Bailee Schiefelbein

Don & Robbyn Treadway Scholarship

Aubrey Layton

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Scholarship

Megan Fragasso

Don and Willa Dean Ramsey Blue & Gold Ag Education Scholarship

McKenna Blair
Karstyn Cantrell
Sydni Case
Dylan Hardwick
Megan Olson
Tiffani Snow
Tanner Taylor
Elijah Turrentine

Leonard Hunter Memorial Scholarship

Aspen Coldiron
Alexis Hise
Bethany Humphreys

Agricultural Education Scholarship

Ashlyn Ahlgrim
Reagon Carter
Ella Cox
Caylyn Cunningham
Jeannette Furlong
Sierra Gomez
Shawn Hilliary
Jacob Nunley
Sarah Tarr
Ashley Thomas
Taylor Trigueiro
Joshua Winnett

Howell Professorship Scholarship

Addison Waller

Larry Watkins Scholarship

Madalyn Nissen
Jaycie Shelburne

Dr. Donald D. Brown Family Memorial Scholarship

Lily Gisclair
Haley Shelton

Huffer Memorial Scholarship

Whitney Walker

James & Hattie Barker Scholarship

Kaylee Pittenger

James D. White Endowed Scholarship

Ryan Best
Emily Manuel
Tyler Price
Kris Rankin
Emily Sewell

The OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership in the Ferguson College of Agriculture is dedicated to developing well-rounded agricultural professionals, educators, communicators and leaders through academic, research and extension and outreach efforts. Learn more at aged.okstate.edu.

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