AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Iowa State University Alumni Association will present awards to several CALS alums and friends at the 92nd annual Honors & Awards Ceremony on Nov. 3.
The public ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium, immediately followed by a dessert reception. Registration is not required to attend.
CALS Awards
Floyd Andre Award
Michael L. Peterson ('84 agricultural business), president and owner of Peterson Genetics, Inc., has had a profound impact on Iowa agriculture and has been a local supporter of Iowa State University.
As a leading provider of soybean germplasm to the North American soybean seed trade, Peterson’s company attributes its success to soybean research and genetics. That is why it is no surprise that through his leadership, Peterson Genetics joined the Iowa Soybean Research Center at Iowa State through both financial support and an advisory role through their industry council.
Peterson’s expertise in the industry developed through over 30 years of experience and through a variety of local and national industry leadership positions. He is a past President of the Iowa Seed Association, past Chair of the Soybean Division of the American Seed Trade Association, and past Chairman of the American Seed Trade Association.
Beyond the leadership of his company’s partnership with ISRC, Peterson has remained personally engaged with Iowa State with significant support of the Stark Performance Center and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Peterson Genetics Seed Science Center Graduate Fellowship provides a great example of his commitment to research and development. He is also a proud recipient of the Agricultural Business Club’s Outstanding Alumni Award.
Peterson is a life member of the ISU Alumni Association. He also belongs to the Order of the Knoll W.M. Beardshear Society and Campanile Society and is a Cyclone Club member. He is the father of five children.
George Washington Carver Distinguished Service Award
Gerald ('62 agricultural business) and Karen Kolschowsky are deeply committed to doing all they can to overcome one of the world’s most widespread and insidious problems –hunger. And their impact is being felt.
The Kolschowskys are one of Iowa State University’s most active and generous couples. Jerry is the retired chairman and co-CEO of OSI Industries, LLC, one of the world’s largest providers of processed meats, poultry, and related products. Karen is a graduate of Michigan State University and has been active with Jerry in many of his business efforts, including trips to other parts of the world, where they saw firsthand the devastation caused by poverty and hunger.
The Kolschowskys were founding supporters of the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences when they accompanied college and program officials on a trip to Uganda in 2004. Almost immediately after that trip, the Kolschowskys announced that they were permanently endowing the SRL program on a scale that would enable it to undertake a large-scale effort in Uganda.
Jerry and Karen’s involvement has benefited many areas of Iowa State University, including University Museums, athletics, the Intensive Livestock Teaching and Research Facility, and the General University Fund for Excellence. They also established the Gerald A. and Karen Kolschowsky Foundation Scholarships for minority students in agriculture. They are life members of the ISU Alumni Association and belong to the Order of the Knoll W.M. Beardshear Society and Campanile Society, and they are Cyclone Club members.
The Kolschowskys live in Oak Brook, Illinois, and have two children: Timothy and Michael (‘92 agricultural business).
Henry A. Wallace Award
A proud animal science graduate, Patrick McGonegle ('83 animal science) has made a tremendous impact on agriculture at the local, state, national and international levels throughout the years. He currently serves as CEO of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, a position he has held since October 2015.
McGonegle’s impact within the pork industry is expansive, with leadership roles that benefit Iowa pork producers at the local level and on our behalf at the national level. He has served as the vice president of state relations and resource development for the National Pork Producers Council, ensuring Iowans continue our tradition as the nation’s leader in pork production.
Pat has also been instrumental in building agricultural education capacity at Iowa State by partnering with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on key fundraising initiatives. His influence has yielded significant support for students, faculty, programs, and capital projects alike.
In addition, Pat’s entire family has been loyal and forever true to Iowa State. Pat and his wife, Julie (’86 home economics education), have two children, Laurel (’22 food science) and James, a current senior majoring in data science. Pat and Julie are annual members of the ISU Alumni Association, and they are Cyclone Club members.
Outstanding Young Professional Award
Bradley Joel (BJ) Brugman ('12 agricultural business) is a native of Royal, Iowa, and a graduate of Iowa State University. After graduating in 2012, he began a successful career in the animal health industry. Joining Elanco Animal Health, Brugman quickly assumed significant responsibilities, managing Elanco’s largest strategic customers in the United States and ultimately spearheading the strategy for the top 200 global customers across various species.
Today, Brugman serves as the founder and CEO of Distynct, a forward-thinking startup focused on enabling precision livestock farming. Distynct’s core mission is to simplify the first steps of the precision livestock farming journey and enable the future of precision livestock farming for livestock producers globally. Leading the way is their flagship product, the Distynct Smart Alarm, an innovative solution that enhances livestock management through real-time remote monitoring, actionable insights, and critical alerts.
Brugman consistently engages with Iowa State with his membership through the Curtiss League. BJ has shared his entrepreneurial story and advice with College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students through Start Something classes and events.
He currently resides in Ames, Iowa, with his wife Kayla (’12 psychology, ’14 MBA business administration), their son Cal, and their ornery dog Pepper. Brugman is a life member of the ISU Alumni Association. He also belongs to the Order of the Knoll Campanile Society and is a Cyclone Club member.
ISU Alumni Association Awards
James A. Hopson Volunteer Award
Heather L. Duncan ('06 public service and administration in agriculture) started her journey of service at Iowa State University and continues it in her day-to-day work and community interactions. She is the team lead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 Grants Management Office. Duncan also serves as a credentialed minister for the Northern Missouri Assemblies of God ministries and as a volunteer for her local school system.
Duncan’s service to Iowa State University has been diverse. She has sat on the ISU Alumni Association Board of Directors, leading the collaborative partnerships committee, the internal organization and diversity committee, and the governance committee. Despite living out of state, Duncan has been a longtime supporter of the ISU Alumni Association’s Cardinal & Gold Gala, and she volunteered for the inaugural planning committee for the alumni association’s Kansas City Cyclones in the City event. She served in the College of Agriculture and Life Science’s Curtiss League, a young alumni initiative designed for alumni under the age of 40 to connect with, engage in, and share strategic college messages. She is also a member of the Cyclone Letterwinners Club.
During her time at Iowa State, Duncan was actively involved as a student equipment manager for ISU Football, a member of ISU Residence Hall Government, a volunteer Sunday school teacher and youth group leader, and active in the Youth and Shelter Services GRIP Mentoring Program – among other clubs and organizations.
Duncan and her husband, Jason (’08 industrial engineering), are the proud parents of three children and are life members of the ISU Alumni Association as well as the Order of the Knoll Campanile Society.