About the Awards
We recognise and celebrate students who have made a positive impact on their peers and shown commitment to their study and research.
The awards acknowledge Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, Animal Science, Environment Science, Earth Science and Horticultural Science students, with awards for excellence going to the top student in each qualification.
Each year since 1993 we have celebrated the best and brightest in the primary industries and as the number one university in New Zealand for agriculture, Massey continues to contribute to the strength of the sector.
Save the date for 2024
We look forward to seeing you at the Dinner at the Palmerston North Function and Conference Centre.
Date: Friday 11 October
Time: 6pm
Tickets
Student Tickets
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students welcome and you can bring your friends. You can choose which sponsor table you would like to sit at – get to know your future employers.
Student tickets are $40.00 - this includes a two course buffet and drinks.
Sponsor/Massey Staff Tickets
Available to sponsors and Massey staff - $95.00.
Tickets for the 2024 Awards Dinner are sold out.
If you want to attend this year's dinner, please contact us to be placed on a waiting list for an available ticket.
The awards consist of 9 categories
Award categories
- William Gerrish Memorial Award
The William Gerrish Memorial Award will be presented for the 22nd year in 2023. This award is for outstanding performance in Farm Management. The award recipient must perform well academically and demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, intellectual curiosity, vision and social conscience. - Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture
Award for students with the highest grade point average in Semester 1. For the most proficient first and second-year students, third-year Agricultural Science and third-year Horticulture students, prizes for first, second and third. - Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science
For the most proficient third and second-year students, prizes for first, second and third. - Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science
For the most proficient third-year student. - Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science
For the most proficient third-year student. - NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student
Award for overall excellence in agriculture or horticulture. The award includes a three-year membership to NZIAHS. - Student Leadership and Service Award
The student who made the best contribution to the well-being and reputation of their fellow students, in the opinion of their peers and/or staff. The recipient is a well-rounded individual with the potential to become a leader and role model. They demonstrate leadership while displaying empathy, ethical conduct, mindfulness and cultural competence. - Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards
Award for the students producing the best report for undergraduate work placement practicums over the summer. 119.150 Practicum I and 119.250 Practicum II. - Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Award trophy for service to the Young Farmers Club.
Awards Dinner
Join us in celebrating excellence in agricultural education. Meet industry partners, Massey staff and students at the annual awards dinner.
This event is the highlight of our agricultural calendar, celebrating student academic success and Massey’s coveted position as New Zealand's number one university in agriculture. An essential fixture for industry and Massey’s best and brightest students.
All students, including 1st year, are encouraged to attend. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with the industry and establish career-long relationships.
Sponsor a table in 2024
The Awards Dinner is your chance to get in front of the leaders of tomorrow and catch up on the latest agricultural developments at Massey University. As a sponsor, you will gain additional exposure at this key industry event.
Award recipients
Each year we celebrate our best and brightest students. Congratulations to all award winners.
2024
William Gerrish Memorial Award
Winner: Yeun An
Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture
First-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)
First place: Katja Newberger
Second place: Jessica Huntington
Third place: Kate Morton
Second-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)
First place: Oliver Cayley
Second place: Jennifer Aylicia
Third place: Sulite Bao
Third-year students (Agriculture, Agribusiness)
First place: Katya De Silva
Second place: Yeun An
Third place: Rebecca Spindler
Third-year students (Horticulture)
First place: Brooke Challis
Second place: Rong Ting (Kayln) Tan
Third place: Elyssa Russell
Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science
Second-year students
First place: Nicola Walsh
Second place: Georgia Stephens
Third place: Hari Nair
Third-year students
First place: Jack Foster
Second place: Hannah Towgood
Third place: Dorothy Schmidlin Wilson
Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science
Winner: Kaiya Elmes
Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science
Winner: Arthur Wickham
NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student
Winner: Benjamin Penno
Student Leadership and Service Award
Winner: Leith Anderson
Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards
Practicum 1 winner: Levi Jennings
Practicum 2 winner: Ashleigh Storey
Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Winner: Tegan Mitchell
Young Farmers Cutting Edge Award
Winner: Matthew Lever
2023
William Gerrish Memorial Award
Winner: Alyssa Hayes
Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture
First-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)
First place: Oliver Cayley
Second place: Vsevolod Chemeris
Third place: Jennifer Aylicia
Second-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)
First place: Katya de Silva
Second place: Kayln Tan
Third place: Rebecca Spindler
Third-year students (Agriculture, Agribusiness)
First place: Harriet Halewood
Second place: Maddison Roberts-Hubers
Third place: Sophie Rutherford
Third-year students (Horticulture)
First place: Harriet Barber
Second place: Tandia Molina
Third place: Wanda O'Meara
Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science
Second-year students
First place: Jack Foster
Second place: Dorothy Schmidlin Wilson
Third place: Leo Farrell
Third-year students
First place: Pippa Smyth
Second place: Hannah Fletcher
Third place: Ella Jones
Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science
Winner: Ilyse Bates
Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science
Winner: Stuart Dearlove
NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student
Winner: Harriet Barber
Student Leadership and Service Award
Winner: Sarah Wilson
Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards
Practicum 1 winner: Matthew Coogan
Practicum 2 winner: Kathryn Olsen
Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Winner: Maggie White
2022
William Gerrish Memorial Award
Winner: Adam Honeyfield – Bachelor of Agribusiness
Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture
Agriculture 3rd-year students
- First place: Erika Lilley – Bachelor of Agribusiness
- Second place: Katie Ervine – Bachelor of Agribusiness
- Third place: Monique Radford – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Horticulture 3rd-year students
- First place: Lachlan Barrett
- Second place: Isabella Ellmers
- Third place: Emma Charleston
Agriculture and Horticulture 2nd-year students
- First place (equal): Harriet Barber – Bachelor of Horticultural Science
- First place (equal): Ye Un An – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- Third place: Maddison Roberts-Hubers – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Agriculture and Horticulture 1st-year students
- First place (equal): Gemma Bayly – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- First place (equal): Katya de Silva – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
- Third place: Sophie Johnston – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science
Animal Science 3rd-year students
- First place: Brooklynn Taylor
- Second place: Sophie Stark
- Third place: Kimberley Bergh
Animal Science 2nd-year students
- First place: Pippa Smyth
- Second place: Hannah Fletcher
- Third place: Hannah Towgood
Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science
Winner: Joanna Wood
Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science
Winner: Ingeborg Smythe
NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student
Winner: Monique Radford
Student Leadership and Service Award
Winner: Fatima Imran
Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards
Practicum I winner: Tessa Whale
Practicum II winner: Adam Honeyfield
Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Winner: Georgia Young
Gallery
Our 2024 sponsors
The School of Agriculture and Environment thank the industry for their support.
Award sponsors
Aviagen
Sponsor of the Excellence in Animal Science award for the most proficient 2nd year students.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture award for the most proficient 3rd year agriculture students.
FarmSource
Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award - Second year academic prize
Horizons Regional Council
Sponsor of the Excellence in Earth Science Award - Third-year academic prize
New Zealand Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science (NZIAHS)
Sponsor of the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student award.
Ravensdown
Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture award for the most proficient 1st year students.
Table sponsors
AgResearch
AgResearch is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Its purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector value chains to contribute to economic growth and beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand.
Horizons Regional Council
Sponsor of the Excellence in Earth Science Award - Third-year academic prize
School of Agriculture and Environment – Te Kura Mātauranga mō Ahuwhenua me
The School of Agriculture and Environment offers internationally recognised teaching and research. It aims to develop a balance between social, environmental and economic outcomes for production and sustainability.
News
School of Agriculture and Environment celebrates successful students within top ranked programmes
The School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards Dinner last week.
Massey’s top land-related science students celebrated
Massey’s School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards Dinner.
Massey announces top agricultural students
Prizes have been announced for the undergraduate agricultural and horticultural students who have excelled in the past year.
Agriculture awards showcase Massey’s finest
Massey University's rising stars have been named at the 26th annual Agriculture Awards Dinner in Palmerston North.
Top agriculture student shares secret of success
Bachelor of AgriCommerce student James Robertson is your classic jack of all trades, but rather than mastering none, he excelled in everything he put his hand up for.
Agriculture’s leading students celebrated
Massey's School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture Awards Dinner.
Swapping the cycle track for the farm track
Reliable, compassionate, dedicated and supportive - these are the words fellow students have used to describe third-year Bachelor of AgriScience student Kate Stewart.
Top students celebrated at Agriculture Awards Dinner
Over 250 people gathered at Massey University's Sport and Rugby Institute on Friday night for the Agriculture Awards Dinner.
Contact us
Contact us from June 2024 to sponsor the awards or discuss the awards dinner.