IFAS
A UF associate professor and beef cattle specialist received a national award for his contributions to the field of animal science.
Matthew Hersom received the Southern Section Extension Award given by the American Society of Animal Science on Feb. 2.
Hersom focuses on beef cattle nutrition and management to research the effects of feeding strategies on beef cattle production.
“It’s always nice to be recognized for your efforts, but it’s also nice to be recognized for the efforts that beef cattle extension is taking on in Florida,” he said.
—KRISTINE JANATA
Veterinary
A UF veterinary student was the first in UF’s history to win a national competition that recognizes business excellence in veterinary medicine.
On Jan. 18, Geoffrey Landau, 26, a fourth-year student at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, was announced the winner of the Simmons Business Aptitude Award.
In the annual competition, each school picks a recipient for a $3,000 scholarship. Those chosen move on to compete in the national level.
Out of 17 other candidates, Landau took the $15,000 grand prize.
“It was a moment of shock and surprise. It was really good to know because I know I put a lot of time into it, and I know everyone else competing did as well,” Landau said.
—VERONICA GARCIA
Accounting
Devin Williams, a fourth-year Ph.D. student of business administration in accounting, was one of 10 students in the country chosen to receive a Deloitte Foundation 2015 Doctoral Fellowship in Accounting.
The foundation awards $25,000 to 10 individuals who plan to pursue academic careers after graduation.
To qualify, one must complete two semesters as a graduate student enrolled in and successfully pursuing a doctoral program in accounting at an accredited U.S. university, wrote Amy Gautschi, senior manager of communications at Deloitte, in an email.
One student from each of the top 100 research universities in the country is nominated by accounting faculty members at their respective schools. Four members of a committee comprised of accounting educators then choose the 10 winners, Gautschi wrote.
This is the first time a UF student has received the award, Williams said.
He said his 30-plus-page application took him months to compile before he submitted everything in October.
“My first goal is to be placed at a top research university,” Williams said. “The end goal is to make the world better.”
—MIKAYLA MOTT
