Amy Irish Brown (Michigan State University)
Amy is working on her PhD in Plant Pathology. Her area of interest is Fruit Tree Diseases. Her goal is to bring more useful information back to the growers in Michigan, especially the Grand Rapids area. She also continues her role as MSU Extension District Fruit Educator.
Ginette Golembiewski (Michigan State University)
Ginette is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture. She is enrolled in the Bailey Scholar program at MSU. Her career ambition is to farm and operate a restaurant that features Michigan-grown agricultural products. She also hopes to create a place where young women leaving foster care can spend a summer learning how to run a business, grow food, and gain self-esteem.
Leah Granke (Michigan State University)
Leah is nearing completion of a PhD in Plant Pathology. She has worked in Dr. Mary Hausbeck’s lab during her graduate studies. Her dissertation research has focused on phytophthora capsici, a major disease problem for a number of vegetable crops grown in Michigan. She plans to continue working in Dr. Hausbeck’s lab as a post-doctural researcher while pursuing a faculty position in plant pathology at a Land Grant university.
Chad Herrmann (Michigan State University)
Chad will be completing a Masters Degree in Horticulture next spring. His thesis research involves a comprehensive study of registered onion herbicides to determine the best methods for effective weed control. He is also working with a computer-guided flamer for post-emergent weed control in both conventional and organic systems. He hopes to be involved in vegetable production either directly or with an ag-related company.
Bill Holdsworth (Michigan State University)
Bill will graduate in May with a dual major in Plant Biology and Horticulture. In addition to his undergraduate studies, Bill has worked part time in a plant genetics research laboratory in the Department of Horticulture. He plans to attend graduate school in hopes of pursuing a career as a plant breeder of vegetable crops.
Tiffany Lillrose (Michigan State University)
Tiffany is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Horticulture and her area of interest is Sustainable Fruit Production. She would eventually like to become a professor and do research. Her particular area of interest is in Stone Fruits and in making them more efficient and economical under Michigan growing conditions. Tiffany plans on graduating December, 2011.
Timothy Miles (Michigan State University)
Timothy is pursuing his PhD in Plant Pathology and his particular area of interest is Small Fruit Diseases. He plans on looking for a post-doctoral position focusing on web-based forecast disease models for small and tree fruit. This could be in the private or academic sector. He plans on graduating in December, 2011.
Gunnar Nyblad (Michigan State University)
Gunnar is enrolled in the two-year Ag-Tech Program. His major is Ag Industry with interest in Fruit Production. He has been working on his family farm since childhood. After graduating in the spring of 2010, Gunnar plans to continue working with his family at New Leaf Orchards.
Nicholas Rasch (Michigan State University)
Nicholas is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Business Management. His area of interest is in Fruit Farm Management. In the future, he plans to carry on his family’s 100-year farming tradition at Fruit Ridge. He plans to graduate in the spring of 2012.
Mike Roth (Michigan State University)
Mike is a junior majoring in Crop and Soil Sciences. For the past two summers, he worked for Helena Chemical Company, scouting fruit and vegetable crops and making pest management recommendations to growers. Upon graduation, he plans to work as an agronomist for a farm chemical company. He would also like to add some vegetable crop production to his family’s farm in Lowell.
Letizia Tozzini (Michigan State University)
Letizia is pursuing her PhD in Horticulture and her area of interest is Tree Pathology and Grapes. Her career interest is to pursue either public or private research in Sustainable Production in the Fruit Industry. She has worked on Nutrition Management in Grape and Measuring the Carbon Footprint of Cherry Production. She plans on graduating in the summer of 2011.
Curtis Dietrich (Michigan State University)
Curtis is completing his second year of the Agriculture Industries program at MSU.
He has grown up on his family’s fruit farm in the Ridge area of Grand Rapids.
After he finishes his degree in the spring of 2010 he plans on returning to farm to work with his family.
Peter Nelson (Michigan State University)
Peter is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in the Department of Entomology.
His area of interest is reduced risk/bio pesticides.
He has worked with Dr. Mark Whalon in the field and lab on apple and cherry
pests the past two years. After graduation in the spring of 2009 he wants
to pursue his Master’s Degree in Entomology.
Jacob Rasch (Michigan State University)
Jacob is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in the Department of Horticulture.
He was born and raised on his family’s fruit farm in Grand Rapids, where his
interest in growing apples and peaches was developed. After graduation in the
spring of 2011 he plans on returning to the family farm.
Nobuko Sugimoto (Michigan State University)
Nobuko is working on her PhD in the Department of Horticulture. Her primary
interest is to understand how aroma volatiles are produced in ripening apples.
Her objective is to study the function of ripening related genes based on
microarray experiments. She plans on graduating in the spring of 2010.
Suneth Sithumini Sooriyapathirana (Michigan State University)
Suneth is working on his PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics. His primary interest
is marker assisted breeding and genomic studies of cherry, strawberry and blueberry.
He has been working in the Tart Cherry Breeding and Sweet Cherry Genetics Programs
in the Department of Horticulture at MSU since October, 2006. After graduation in
December 2009 he plans on continuing his career in his chosen field.
Adam Dietrich (Michigan State University)
Adam is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture. He has spent the last three years
working on post harvest of fruit with Dr. Randy Beaudry. He will graduate in May 2008 and
is looking forward to working in the Fruit Industry.
Soo-Hoon Samual Kim (Michigan State University)
Soo-Houn is working on his Master’s Degree in Entomology. He has done research work in apples
with major pests such as codling moth and plum curculio. He would like to continue his studies,
pursuing a PhD to become a professor.
Timothy Schwallier (Michigan State University)
Timothy is working on a two-year degree in Agriculture Industries. He has worked at the post
harvest lab in Clarksville for the past three summers. After graduating from the two-year
program he plans on pursuing a degree in Horticulture and eventually work in the Fruit Industry.
Michael VonWeihe (Michigan State University)
Michael is working on a Master’s Degree in Horticulture. His particular area of interest
is high tunnel bramble production. After graduation he hopes to pursue a career of teaching or
extension in small fruits.
Andrew Fles(Michigan State University)
Andrew is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture and will graduate in 2007.
Viticulture and pomology are interest areas for Andrew. He would like to work in the wine industry,
preferably in the State of Michigan mainly because of the opportunities it offers.
Stephen Jordan(Michigan State University)
Working on his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Stephen’s area of interest is fungal diseases of grapevines.
His plans are to complete his degree in the fall of 2007. After graduation, he would like to continue
at the university level doing lab research with a dual emphasis on the biology of plant pathogens of
fruit crops, primarily grapes, and devising novel strategies for control.
Kevin Rasch (Davenport University)
Kevin is working on his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. He has scouted for UAP and Wilbur Ellis and
attended training sessions at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. His plans include consultation for
growers and the writing of chemical recommendations to the fruit industry.
Michael Swindeman (Michigan State University)
Majoring in Horticulture with an area of interest in fruit production, Michael is very committed to a
career in the apple industry. His plans upon graduation are to return to the family farm. His emphasis
will be on managing the orchards and increased production and fruit quality.
Martin Villarreal (Michigan State University)
Martin in working on his Entomology Bachelor’s Degree at MSU. His area of interest is in fruit tree
entomology and biological controls. His aspiration is to further his education and focus on either
fruit tree or forensic entomology specialization at an educational, research, or governmental level.
Adam James Dietrich Michigan State University)
is working on his Master’s Degree, majoring in horticulture. He has worked on
his family’s farm and worked in Postharvest Research
on apples and various fruits at MSU. Adam’s plans after graduation include
working for a chemical company working for the fruit and vegetable industry in
Brian C. Hosmer (Michigan State University)
Majoring in Viticulture and Enology, Brian will be receiving his Master’s Degree in
2006. He works in his department in the vineyards trellising, pruning,
harvesting, irrigation installation, fruit assessment, and has worked for the
laboratory and winery. Brian would like to stay in
Juliette King (Michigan State University)
Juliette is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Agri-business Management and
Horticulture. Growing up on a farm, Juliette has been very active in all
aspects of farming, including office and retail sales to cherry harvest and
labor. She would like to return to her father’s farm and further expand its operations
and would like to eventually start a vineyard and winery with a tasting room.
Stevie Lynn Malone (Michigan State University)
Stevie Lynn is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in plant pathology. She has extensive experience
scouting fruit and vegetable crops and is working for West Central Michigan
Crop Management Association. Stevie plans to pursue
her Master and PhD degrees in Plant Pathology, and become a university
professor and conduct research on fruit and/or vegetable crops to help farmers
prevent and control devastating crop pathogens.
Nobuko Sugimoto (Michigan State University)
Nobuko’s goal is to receive her PhD in Postharvest Physiology. She is currently working
in the area of biosynthesis of apple aroma during ripening from the
biochemistry and genetic aspects in the relationship to the apple’s physiology.
Her goal is to maintain and improve the flavor in fruits and vegetables to
benefit both producers and consumers.
William Bristol
(
William is majoring in Horticulture/Pomology and will be transferring into a four-year horticulture program at MSU. His plans after graduating include returning to the family farm where he will begin to transfer everything from standard rows to high density planting. His plans also include marketing and sales of the family business.
Jason F. Jablon
(
Jason’s major at MSU is in Applied Plant Science. He
plans on becoming an IPM scout/crop advisor specializing in tree fruit and in
organic solutions to help farmers to be able to switch to organic production.
He believes there will be a growing market in this area and he plans on
specializing in organic and fresh tree fruit production selling directly to
consumers and retailers.
Dario Stefanelli
(
Dario will major in Horticulture with special
interest in organic apple production. He has participated in MSU’s Student Organic Farms, has been an Organic Orchard
Consultant volunteer, and an active HOGS (Horticulture Organization Graduate
Students) member. His plans include working in a fruit industry doing research
and to help increase fruit health and quality.
Stephen Tennes
(
Stephen is currently working on his Master degree in
Horticulture and is a HOGS (Horticulture Organization Graduate Students)
member. In addition to his studies, he is slowly assuming all management
responsibilities of his family’s apple orchard, pumpkin patch, cider mill, and
farm market. It is his intention to continue to run and expand the farm and
become more involved in Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry.
Yufei
Xu
(
A current member of HOGS (Horticulture Organization
Graduate Students), Yufei is majoring in Horticulture
with special interest in Pomology and Molecular
Biology. Yufei would like to build up international
collaborations to benefit the
2003 MSHS
Scholarship Recipients
Chrislyn Drake
Melissa Sue Moser
Kevin Rasch
Barbara M. Schmidt
Aaron Smith
2002 MSHS
Scholarship Recipients
Mavis Tan
Mavis received a BS degree in Food Science from MSU in August
2002. She has been accepted into MSU’s graduate program and is working with Dr. Janice Harte
on two projects. One is Chestnut based
project development and the other is Apple cider. She has received various scholarships and been
involved with several organizations in her undergraduate career.
Creela Overton
Creela is currently enrolled at Grand Valley State College, majoring in natural resource management. She is the secretary of the Soil and Water Conservation Society on campus. She has spent the last two summers working in the I.P.M. Scout Project in West Central Michigan. Her career goal is to become a chemical and pest management consultant.
Mercy Olmstead
Mercy is currently enrolled in the P.H.D. program at MSU. Her area of interest is Cherry physiology and
dwarfing. In her undergraduate years she
has worked with the grape and wine industry in
Jeff Russell
Jeff is currently
enrolled in Southern Illinois University.
His major is Plant, Soil and General Ag.
He has worked with the SIU research orchards. His career goals are to teach Horticulture at
a community college and to grow fruits and vegetables.
Katy Winkel
Katy is currently enrolled at MSU majoring in
Agribusiness. Her experience includes
working on a Fruit and Vegetable farm, SW Research and Extension and
2001 MSHS
Scholarship Recipients
Cathy Pisano
Brian Rajzer
Gary Thornton
Randall Vos
Kasey Watts
2000 MSHS Scholarship Recipients
Jennifer L. Anderson
Ernesto Huaracha
Amy T. Irish-Brown
Emelee A. Reifschneider
Benjamin Stanley Schilling
1999 MSHS
Scholarship Recipients
Timothy J. Beemer
Tim will receive his
Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, with an emphasis in pomology,
on Friday this week. He hopes to attend graduate school for pomology.
Tim, the son of Norma and John Beemer, is from
Jessica S. Hackert
Jessica, the daughter of Roy and Sue Hackert of Ludington, will receive her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business Management in May 2001. Jessica has been active in many student organizations and on-campus activities. She has worked for Hackert Farms and with Dr. Don Ricks at MSU. She hopes to return to the farm at some point in the future. She would like to be involved in the public policy aspect of the fruit industry and hopes to intern with a Michigan Congressman.
Daniel J. Wampfler
Dan is the son of David and
Ann Wampfler of
1998 MSHS Scholarship Recipients
Lisa Winkel
Lisa is the daughter of Rodney and Jeanette Winkel of Watervliet. She is a senior at MI State Univ. majoring in Agribusiness Management. She has worked five years at Coloma Frozen Foods, two years at Cherry Marketing Institute and at Greg Orchards and Produce as needed. She has been on the Dean’s list for six semesters, has twice received the Michigan Frozen Food Processors Assoc. Scholarship, has received the Panhellenic Council Overseas Study Scholarship, the Glynn McBride Assoc. of Farmer Cooperatives Scholarship, the MSU Study Abroad Scholarship, and the MSU College of Ag. Study Abroad Scholarship. She has been active in many civic and public service activities as well as student organizations. After college, she hopes to obtain a job with an agribusiness firm either in sales or office management. After gaining some experience she would like to return to the family business, Greg Orchards & Produce, to manage a fresh fruit packing plant. She also envisions the addition of a farm market with u-pick and a restaurant for families and tourists. (More info on attached bio.)
John Rasch
John is the son of Vincent Rasch and Maryann Teisman both of
1997 MSHS Scholarship Recipient
Melanie Kaeb
Melanie is from