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College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Meet the 2023-2024 CALS Ambassadors

The CALS Ambassadors are a select group of students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics and student leadership.

Kelly Alexander

Class of '26

Hometown: Sneads, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication

Involvement: Collegiate Farm Bureau, American Conservation Coalition, Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow

Favorite Place on Campus: Lake Alice

Meredith Anderson

Class of '24

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Major: Marine Sciences

Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute Cohort 12, Alpha Zeta, United States Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Student Contractor, UF Nature Coast Biological Station Intern, Sigma Kappa Sorority

Favorite Place on Campus: Lake Alice

Jamie Beach

Class of ‘25
Hometown: Taiwan
Major: Entomology and Nematology
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute, Bugs and People Teaching Assistant, Urban Entomology Lab Research Intern, 2023 Emerging Scholar
Favorite Place on Campus: Lake Alice

Maegan Beatty

Class of ‘26
Hometown: Lake Butler, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute Cohort 14, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Block and Bridle, Vice President of Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow, Dean for Extensions Student Assistant
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Reitz Union Lawn Chairs

Sarah Benchea

Class of '26
Hometown: Franklin, TN
Major: Food Science
Involvement: Spoon UF, Zeta Tau Alpha, Field and Fork Volunteer
Favorite Place on Campus: Field and Fork Farm and Gardens

Christian Bentrovato

Class of '24
Hometown: Plant City, FL
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute Cohort 14, Collegiate Farm Bureau
Favorite Place on Campus: Chick-fil-A at The Hub

Emma Biggers

Class of ‘24
Hometown: Marianna, FL
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Involvement: Agriculture Future of America, Horticultural Sciences Students Club, Owner of Brooklynn’s Clothing Boutique
Favorite Place on Campus: McCarty Hall A

Drew Blanton

Class of '26
Hometown: Plant City, FL
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Involvement: Florida Youth Institute Counselor, Vice President of Ag Econ Club, Agriculture Future of America, FRE Agriculture Mentorship Program, Gator Beach Volleyball Club Favorite
Favorite Place on Campus: Reitz Green Pond

Andy Brantmeyer

Class of '26
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Major: Agricultural Operations Management
Involvement: Agriculture Future of America, Social Chair of AOM Club
Favorite Place on Campus: Education Library

Cameron Courtney

Class of '24
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Major: Microbiology and Cell Science; English
Involvement: Alpha Zeta Chancellor, North Florida Hospital Volunteer, University Research Scholars Program Class Representative, Laboratory Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Crisis Hotline Volunteer
Favorite Place on Campus: Plaza of the Americas

Celeste Delgado

Class of '25
Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Marine Sciences
Involvement: UF Forage Lab Laboratory Technician, United States Geological Survey Geographic Information Systems Analyst, Alpha Zeta, UF Foundation, UF CASA
Favorite Place on Campus: La Casita (Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures)

Megan Edge

Class of ‘25
Hometown: Lake City, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: Collegiate Farm Bureau President, Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow President, CALS Council Vice President, CALS Leadership Institute, CALS Dean’s Office Student Assistant
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or Smathers Library

Camryn Farquhar

Class of '24
Hometown: Zephyrhills, FL
Major: Agricultural Education an Communication
Involvement: Dairy Science Club, Block and Bridle, Field and Fork Intern, Seeds4Life Program
Favorite Place on Campus: Lake Alice

Lily Gumbinner

Class of ‘24
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Major: Animal Sciences
Involvement: Research assistant at UF Dairy Unit, Veterinary Intern at Equine Reproductive Specialty Practice, Animal Science Teaching Assistant
Favorite Place on Campus: Horse Teaching Unit

Lana Guzman

Class of ‘26
Hometown: Wesley Chapel, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: UF Salt Company, Agriculture Future of America, Agriculture Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow, Block and Bridle, Dairy Science Club, and Former Field and Fork Intern, CALS Dean’s Office Communication Intern
Favorite Place on Campus: Field and Fork Farm and Gardens

Hannah Hosay

Class of ‘24
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Major: Microbiology and Cell Science
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute, President of Florida Running Club, UF Pre-dental ASDA, Florida Mission of Mercy, Catholic Gators
Favorite Place on Campus: Percy Beard Track

Reagan Hudson

Class of '24
Hometown: Chiefland, FL
Major: Nutritional Sciences
Involvement: UF Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Field and Fork Volunteer
Favorite Place on Campus: Lake Alice

Jillian Johnston

Class of '26
Hometown: Okeechobee, FL
Major: Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, American Conservation Coalition, CALS Leadership Institute Cohort 14
Favorite Place on Campus: UF Health Science Library

Bailee Lawrence

Class of ‘23
Hometown: Lithia, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: Collegiate Farm Bureau, American Conservation Coalition, Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow, CALS Leadership Institute, AEC Communications Department Student Assistant
Favorite Place on Campus: Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field

Brent Long

Class of '24
Hometown: Live Oak, FL
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Involvement: Alpha Gamma Rho, Colligate Farm Bureau, Agriculture Economics Club
Favorite Place on Campus: The Hub

Laney Mulhollen

Class of '25
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Major: Natural Resource Conservation
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute, UF Forestry Club, Xi Sigma Pi, Society of Conservational Biology
Favorite Place on Campus: Condron Family Ballpark

Calista Neal

Class of '24
Hometown: Dunnellon, FL
Major: : Nutritional Sciences
Involvement: CALS Leadership Institute, Phi Mu sorority, UF pre-dental ASDA
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Evelyn Neilson

Class of '25
Hometown: Key West, FL
Major: Food Science
Involvement: Food Science and Human Nutrition Club, IFT College Bowl, American Society of Baking Product Development Team, UF Product Development Club, UF Sensory Lab
Favorite Place on Campus: FSHN courtyard

Dylan Pace

Class of '25
Hometown: Lake City, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: Student Assistant in the Dean for Extension’s Office, Bob Graham Center for Public Service, Future of Florida Summit
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Lauren Philbin

Class of '25
Hometown: Winter Garden, FL
Major: Nutritional Sciences
Involvement: Cru, AMSA, Research Assistant at the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, Habitat for Humanity, Honors Ensemble
Favorite Place on Campus: UF Teaching Garden

Libby Putnam

Class of '24
Hometown: Bartow, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication; Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Involvement: Keystone Florida, Phi Mu, IFAS Advancement Student Assistant, Alpha Tau Alpha, CALS Council, Florida Cicerones, SACUA, AEC Advisory Council
Favorite Place on Campus: CALS Collaboration Room

Morgan Raper

Class of ‘24
Hometown: Marianna, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: UF Gator Collegiate Cattlewomen, Block and Bridle, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Agricultural Communicators and Leaders of Tomorrow, American Conservation Coalition, CALS Leadership Institute Cohort 14
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Abigail Ripplinger

Class of ‘25
Hometown: Lake Butler, FL
Major: Biology (Emphasis: Natural Sciences)
Involvement: ILLUMINATE Youth Ministry
Favorite Place on Campus: The stone table in between Turlington and Rolfs Hall

John Rowsell

Class of '25
Hometown: Wesley Chapel, FL
Major: Microbiology and Cell Science
Involvement: Head Coach of the Florida Running Club
Favorite Place on Campus: Plaza of the Americas

Ann Renee Saint Fleur

Class of '24
Hometown: Miramar, Fl
Major: Food Science
Involvement: Student Assistant for Office of Academic Support, Internal Vice President of Club Creole, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, and Student Staff for Gator Nights
Favorite Place on Campus: MCDA-Second Floor of the Reitz Union

Jonathan Stephens

Class of '25
Hometown: Winter Garden, FL
Major: Food Science; Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: University of Florida Student Senate, Pride Student Union, Students Eat Right UF, Undergraduate Research
Favorite Place on Campus: Marston Science Librar

Brenna Sturgis

Class of '25
Hometown: Plant City, FL
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Favorite Place on Campus: Condron Family Ballpark

Christian Wilder

Class of '25
Hometown: Hazlet, NJ
Major: Entomology and Nematology
Involvement: Medical Assistant for Accent Physicians, Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Researcher, Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity
Favorite Place on Campus: Natural Area Teaching Laboratory

Emily Winter

Class of '24
Hometown: St Petersburg, FL
Major: Animal Sciences
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Zeta, Girls on the Run Volunteer
Favorite Place on Campus: Smathers Library

Nicole Zubowicz

Class of '24
Hometown: Titusville, Florida
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Involvement: Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, CALS Leadership Institute
Favorite Place on Campus: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

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