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, Earth & Environmental Science and Horticultural Science students, with awards for excellence going to the top student in each qualification. The awards are for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students.
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.
The Awards are celebrated at a dinner each year, held at the Palmerston North Function and Conference Centre.
Awards Dinner
The annual awards dinner is a highlight of Massey’s agricultural calendar, celebrating student academic success and excellence in agricultural education.
The event brings together students, Massey staff and industry partners to recognise achievement and strengthen connections with the agricultural sector.
Award recipients
Each year we celebrate our best and brightest students. Congratulations to all award winners. Thank you to all our sponsors for their support.
2026
2026
Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Winner: James Guerin
Agricultural and Horticultural Practicum Awards I
Winner: Hallan Connell
Agricultural and Horticultural Practicum Awards II
Winner: Grace Hall
Awards for Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture
Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award – First year academic prize
First place: Ayisha Hull
Second place: Caitlin Murphy
Third place: William Paris
Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award – Second year academic prize
First place: Lauren Phillips
Second place: Leila Benton
Third place: Aston Evans-Parkes
Excellence in Animal Science
Excellence in Animal Science Award – Second year academic prize
First place: Tessa Herd
Second place: Ashlee Reddecliffe
Third place: Ben Carroll
Excellence in Earth & Environmental Science
Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science Award – Second year academic prize
Winner: Lorraine Johns
NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student Award
Winner: Kate Simpson
School of Agriculture and Environmental Student Leadership & Service Award
Winner: Patrick Coogan
Third year prizes for academic excellence
Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science Award – Third year academic prize
Winner: Melissa Jones
Excellence in Horticulture Award – Third year academic prize
First place: Katja Newberger
Second place: Georgia Dowling
Third place: Sam Taylor
Excellence in Animal Science Award – Third year academic prize
First place: Michaela O'Shea
Second place: Katie Twist
Third place: Oliver Bennett
Excellence in Agriculture Award – Third year academic prize
First place: Aodhan Wildbore
Second place: Vetekina Pau'u
Third place: Etham Lim
William Gerrish Memorial Award
Winner: Vetekina Pau'u
2025
2025
Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
Winner: Patrick Coogan
Young Farmers Cutting Edge Award
Winner: Jock Bourke
Agricultural and Horticultural Practicum Awards I
Winner: Olivia Webber
Agricultural and Horticultural Practicum Awards II
Winner: Alyssa Brazendale
Award for Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture
Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award – First year academic prize
First place: Kelsey Norrie
Second place equal: Aston Evans-Parkes
Second place equal: Lauren Phillips
Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award – Second year academic prize
First place: Aodhan Wildbore
Second place: Katja Newberger
Third place: Olivia Webber
Excellence in Animal Science
Excellence in Animal Science Award - Second year academic prize
First place equal: Adam Beard
First place equal: Michaela O'Shea
Second place: Eunseo Park
Excellence in Earth & Environmental Science
Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science Award – Second year academic prize
Winner: Melissa Jones
NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student Award * Paid directly by NZIAHS
Winner: Katja Newberger
School of Agriculture and Environmental Student Leadership & Service Award
Winner: Levi Jennings
Third year prizes
Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science Award – Third year academic prize
Winner: Merle Taendler
Excellence in Horticulture Award – Third year academic prize
First place: Andor Laszlo
Second place: Teresa Wylaars
Third place: Nathan Pollard
Excellence in Animal Science award – Third year academic prize
First place: Nicola Walsh
Second place: Georgia Stephens
Third place: Ella Knight
Excellence in Agriculture Award – Third year academic prize
First place: Oliver Cayley
Second place: Alyssa Brazendale
Third place: Lonay Johnson
William Gerrish Memorial Award
Winner: Toby Collis
2024
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
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
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 2026 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.
FarmSource
Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award - Second year academic prize
Horizons Regional Council
Excellence in Earth and Environmental 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.
Taranaki Regional Council
Sponsor of the Excellence in Earth and Environmental Science Award - Second year academic prize
Table sponsors
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
Passion, purpose and potential recognised at 33rd Ag Awards
The next generation of leaders shaping Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary industries were recognised at the 33rd annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards in early October, with Tongan Manaaki Scholarship recipient and third-year agriculture student Vetekina Pau’u receiving the evening’s top honour.
Final William Gerrish Memorial Award honours student commited to community impact
Tongan Manaaki Scholarship recipient and third-year Bachelor of Agricultural Science student Vetekina Pau’u took home the evening’s top honour at the 33rd annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards, becoming the final recipient of the prestigious William Gerrish Memorial Award.
Harvesting excellence: Celebrating the future of primary industries
The School of Agriculture and Environment celebrated its standout students during the annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environment Science Awards Dinner last week.
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.
Contact us
Contact Dr Sarah Golding to sponsor the awards or discuss the awards dinner.