Fedro Zazueta was named a co-winner of the 2008 Kishida International Award by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. He shares the honor with K.C. Ting from the University of Illinois. The award honors outstanding contributions toward food and fiber production, improved living, and education outside the United States. Zazueta, an ASABE Fellow, is being recognized for his outstanding worldwide accomplishments in information technology in agriculture and natural resources through research, teaching, extension programs, and technology transfer.

Dr. Ray Bucklin was named a Fellow by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Dr. Bucklin is recognized worldwide for his reseach and extension programs, which have resulted in significant improvements to dairy housing and milk production. His current research includes working with NASA personnel to develop methods for growing plants on lengthy space missions. Members selected as Fellows demonstrate unusual professional distinction, with outstanding qualifications and experience in the field of agricultural engineering. Twenty years' membership in ASABE is also required. Only about two percent of the active members of ASABE have achieved the grade of Fellow.

The UF ASABE Student Club received an award for the Most Attractive Fountain at the annual ASABE meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bill Miller received the 2008 Citrus Engineering Award. The award is sponsored by Progress Energy and was presented at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 54th Florida Section Citrus Engineering Conference. Dr. Miller was also named a 2008 ASABE Fellow at the national meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Vicki Keener's entry titled, “Categorical ENSO effects on simulated phosphorus loading in South Florida” received a 1st place award in the student poster competition at the Climate Information for Managing Risks (CIMR) Symposium. Viki is a Ph.D. student specializing in climate and hydrological modeling.

Nathan Wangusi has been awarded a one-year Rotary Foundation Scholarship which will supplement his doctoral research project  titled “ Integrated Watershed and River Modeling for Adaptive Learning and Management in the Crocodile River Basin, South Africa”. The research revolves around trying to find solutions for water and land resource conflicts between indigenous Southern Africans, wildlife within the Kruger National Park, commercial and rural farmers and industry owners amongst other stake holders within the Crocodile River Basin using adaptive management and computer modeling technologies. Nathan will begin his work in South Africa in 2009.

Jasmeet Judge was named the ASABE Florida Section Young Researcher. The award honors dedicated use of scientific methodology to seek out facts or principles significant to agricultural engineering. Dr. Judge specializes in Remote Sensing.

Mike Dukes was named the ASABE Florida Section Young Extension Worker. This award honors outstanding success in motivating people to acquire knowledge, skills and understanding to improve agricultural operations. Dr. Dukes specializes in irrigation.

Jose Reyes was selected as the ASABE Florida Section Young Engineer. It is presented to an engineer, 40 or younger, in the field of Ag Engineering and is a leader who represents the profession thru his or her work.

Dr. Jim Leary was presented with a Distinguished Achievement Award by the ASABE Florida Section. It is awarded to an individual who is active in the state section and in the profession of Agricultural Engineering. Recipient has typically served as active member of the Executive Committee.

Lauren Hunter was presented with the Outstanding Student Award by the ASABE Florida Section. Lauren recently graduated with an ABE degree, specializing in Land and Water Resources Engineering.

Zuzanna and Eban were awarded first and second place, respectively, in the student paper competition at the Florida Section ASABE conference

Stacia Davis won 3rd place in the Florida State Horticultural Society (FSHS) Student Paper competition.The title of her paper was “Irrigation Application Using Evapotranspiration-Based Irrigation Controllers.”

Fernando Vargas' poster titled, "Degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Exposed to Steam" was selected as the winner of the student poster competition at the Society of Plastics Engineers GPEC 2008 Conference. Fernando is a doctoral student specializing in Packaging Science.

Maggie Lanigan was awarded the Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Scholarship (presented by Dr. Elaine Turner) at the GSD Initiation and Awards Reception. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Dr. Jonathan Earle is the first UF faculty member to receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. He was honored as one of only 10 recipients nationwide in a ceremony at the White House. Dr. Earle was recognized for his work to create several mentoring and outreach programs including the STEPUP program which has had a huge impact on the success of underrepresented minority students in earning engineering degrees.

Dr. Melanie Correll was awarded the NASA and European Space Agency Award which honors outstanding accomplishments in spaceflight research.She was recognized for her work on project TROPI which was a series of experiments that were performed on the International Space Station.

Elana Rich was selected as the winner of the 2007 Marvin Byer Award for her submission to the annual graduate student competition sponsored by Research and Development Associates (R&DA) for Military and Food and Packaging Systems. Elana's topic was Heat Penetration Studies on Shelf-stable Ethnic Foods in Retortable Trays. The R&DA is a professional organization with memberships from US military, government, universities, and the food industry.

Ray Bucklin was selected to receive the Henry Giese Structures and Environment Award from the National Association of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). The award honors distinguished service in advancing the knowledge and science of agricultural structures and environment. Dr. Bucklin is recognized worldwide for his reseach and extension programs, which have resulted in significant improvements to dairy housing and milk production. His current research includes working with NASA personnel to develop methods for growing plants on lengthy space missions.

Bruce Welt was named a North American Colleges and Teachers of America (NACTA) 2007 Teacher Fellow. Selections are based on teaching philosophy; evaluations by current students, alumni, administrative officers, and peers; a self-evaluation as well as factors such as availability to students, teaching innovations, and departmental/institutional activity.

The 2007 ABE Fountain Wars Team received third place in the annual G.B. Gunlogson Environmental Student Design Competition at the ASABE National Meeting in Minneapolis.Team members (l-r) include Maggie Lanigan, Jon Alldrige, David Palubin, Colleen Howard, Jack Cowen and Lauren Hunter.

Michael Dukes was selected to receive the Outstanding Service Award from the Florida Section ASABE. The award was presented at the annual meeting in June. This award is given to a member of the society who has served the section with distinction. Dukes was also awarded an Outstanding Reviewer Award in the Soil and Water Division by the national ASABE in recognition of his help in ensuring high quality ASABE peer-reviewed journals. Only 10 reviewers are recognized annually.

Tom Burks was also awarded an Outstanding Reviewer Award by the national ASABE in recognition of his help in ensuring high quality peer-reviewed journals in the Power and Machinery Division.

Melanie Correll was selected as as the recipient of the Florida Section ASABE Young Researcher Award. The award honors dedicated use of scientific methodology to seek out facts or principles significant to agricultural engineering.

Dr. Larry Shaw was presented with a pin recognizing 50 Years of Service to the Florida Section ASABE.

Robert Peart , along with Wayne Maley and Ben Jones were presented with a plaque recognizing their Presidential Service Award . It was presented by ASABE for their work as co-authors of a book titled "Three Decades of Change - ASAE to ASABE".

Susana Sepúlveda Bustos, Fedro Zazueta, Ray Bucklin and E. Holzapfel Hoces received an Honorable Mention Paper Award for their paper entitled Rapid Prototyping of Learning Objects for Agricultural and Biological Engineering Education. Paper awards are presented to the top 5% of papers published in ASABE refereed journals. 

Kevin Bray and Sheevani Bhalsod were awarded Florida Section ASABE Scholarships at the annual meeting.

Mary Shedd was Second Place in the Graduate Student Paper Competition at the 2007 Soil and Crop Science Society of Florida in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, June 3-5.  The competition consisted of an abstract and oral competition.  Her paper was entitled “Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture-based Irrigation Control on Turfgrass Compared to Theoretical Requirements”.

Prinda Wanakule was selected as one of only two recipients of an Outstanding Gator Engineering 4 Year Scholar Award from the Engineering Commencement Committee. Students are selected through an application and essay process based on scholastic achievements, academic awards, honoraria, research projects, published papers, conference presentations, and honors theses. 

Robin Snyder was selected as a recipient of an Silver Image Award from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). She was recognized for her production of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department's 2006 Spring/Summer Newsletter.

Stuart Muller was selected as a recipient of an Alec Courtelis Award from the University of Florida International Center. Stuart is a Ph.D. student from South Africa. He has volunteered his services to NSF integrated Graduate Education and Research Training, is a member of three organizations and holds an officer's position with the UF chapter of the American Water Resources Association. He is also active in environmental efforts in and around Gainesville.

Cecilia Amador was selected as a recipient of an Outstanding Student Award, from the UF International Center. Cecilia is a Student Government Senator, Vice-President Elect of the Graduate Student Council, and President of the Hispanic Graduate Student Association.

Dr. Bruce Welt was selected as a recipient of an NACTA Teacher Fellow Award, which is a criterion based award and is reviewed by a committee of NACTA members. Criteria included in the evaluation are the instructor's teaching philosophy; evaluations submitted by current students, alumni, administrative officers, and peers; a self-evaluation as well as factors such as availability to students, teaching innovations, and departmental/institutional activity.

Mary Garvin was selected as a recipient of a 2007 Superior Accomplishment Award from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The award recognizes IFAS employees who have been nominated for outstanding performance.

Dr.Wendell Porter was selected as a 2006 Outstanding Educator in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Dr. Porter was nominated by AOM student Roger Gayle. The award recognizes faculty whose support and guidance helped students accomplish their academic goals.