By Katrina Hageman
Four College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students are recipients of the 2026 Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award. This prestigious award, established in 1968, recognizes six graduating seniors each spring who exemplify excellence in character, high academic achievement and remarkable involvement on and off campus.
Wallace E. “Red” Barron (1928 agricultural economics) served as Iowa State University’s director of alumni affairs from 1937 to 1968. In his honor, the Iowa State University Alumni Association presents this award annually with recognition and official Iowa State rings.
Emma Alstott
Majors: Global Resource Systems, Horticulture
Why did you choose to attend Iowa State?
I chose to attend Iowa State because it offered the opportunity to study both of my specific interests, plant science and related global issues, and has a reputation for being a good agriculture school. I am very proud to be the first in my family to attend Iowa State and the first to study science and agriculture!
Who has positively impacted your time at Iowa State?
My research mentors, Dr. Suzanne Slack and Dr. Xiaochen Yuan, my professor Dr. Gail Nonnecke and my advisor Barb Clawson have been huge advocates and supporters of mine during my time at Iowa State. I am really grateful for all that they have done for me in the past four years.
What is your biggest achievement from your time at Iowa State?
My biggest achievement from my time at Iowa State has been getting the opportunity to speak at the fourth International Symposium of Fire Blight on Rosaceous Plants and earning second place in the graduate student oral competition.
What is a memory that you will cherish from Iowa State?
A memory that I will cherish from Iowa State is going on the Horticulture Club trips to Kansas City and Chicago. I loved spending time with my friends, visiting the botanical gardens and seeing the city.
How has Iowa State prepared you for your future career?
Iowa State has provided me with so many professors and mentors who care not just about how I perform academically, but also about me as a whole person and my future. This support has led to so many leadership and research opportunities that have helped prepare me for my future career.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to go to the University of New Hampshire to pursue a Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, with an emphasis in plant pathology. I hope to pursue a career working to better understand the pathogenicity of emerging infectious plant pathogens that threaten food security. I hope to achieve this by conducting research and extension work through either a university or the USDA.
Haylie Moore
Major: Agricultural Business
What extracurricular activities have you been involved in as a student?
Most of my club involvement has been with the International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences (IAAS), where I’ve served as treasurer and president for the Iowa State chapter. I currently serve as the national director for IAAS USA. I have also been greatly involved with the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, where I volunteer annually to assist with the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, the Global Youth Institute and the Iowa Youth Institute.
Who has positively impacted your time at Iowa State?
Both of my advisors have made a tremendous impact on me over the years, each encouraging me to pursue opportunities on campus and beyond, while never doubting my ability to achieve whatever I set my mind to. My time at Iowa State also would not have been the same without my friends. My friends and I have been a source of mutual support through the years, and I feel incredibly grateful to them for pushing me outside of my comfort zone and encouraging me to try new things.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
If the decision won’t matter in five years from now, it probably isn’t that important. Don’t overthink. However, for the decisions that are important, don’t be afraid to trust your instinct because being overly logical can often hide what your heart truly desires.
What is your biggest achievement from your time at Iowa State?
My biggest achievement has been completing my honors research project. Last semester, I worked with two faculty members in the Department of Economics on a project titled “Assessing the Convergence of Global Male and Female Infant Mortality Rates.” It was such a great way to dive headfirst into research, from choosing my own project to executing it independently. I also learned new skills in my technical field, and it really helped to prepare me for doing research in graduate school.
How has Iowa State prepared you for your future career?
Iowa State has given me the opportunity to study and intern abroad in six different countries across Europe, Asia and Latin America. As someone who would like to pursue an international career, these experiences have been especially important to me in developing cross-cultural awareness and helping me to grow into a globally minded student and future professional.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to pursue a master’s in agricultural economics, and I eventually hope to work for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in a role related to international trade.
Tristan Weers
Major: Biochemistry
Why did you choose to attend Iowa State?
Iowa State University felt like home from the second I stepped on campus. It had a unique combination of top-tier programs mixed with the opportunity to start hands-on research soon after arriving that I couldn’t turn down. The dedication that Iowa State has toward helping you achieve your goals has been evident since my first day. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
What has been your favorite class and why?
It’s a technicality, but my favorite class has been being part of the President’s Leadership Class. The opportunity to learn from such amazing leaders across Iowa State’s campus is unrivaled. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be part of three cohorts of the class, seeing the lessons from a different perspective each time.
As for classes officially in the course catalog, my favorite has been BBMB 5060: Membrane Biochemistry, with Professor Culbertson. Not only was his dedication to the class constantly and consistently evident, but I also loved learning about a part of biochemistry I hadn’t had previous exposure to.
Who has positively impacted your time at Iowa State?
There are far too many people to list here. All the professors who have taught me. My incredible girlfriend, Karsten. My family, who has been a constant source of support and encouragement. My friends within and outside of the biochemistry community. My mentors and peers within the President’s Leadership Class and my managers, both in the Bessey Greenhouse, my lab, CALS, Honors and more that don’t fit into these categories. I can’t thank these people enough.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Just relax. It’s going to be fine. Things can pile up quickly and seem like a lot, but you wouldn’t be in your current role if you weren’t deserving or good enough. Just be you and that’s all anyone can ask.
How has Iowa State prepared you for your future career?
The chance to get involved with research early on has been one of the key factors in preparing me for the future. While talking to potential schools and employers, they are consistently surprised that I have had the opportunity to start meaningful work, developing hands-on training, from such an early point in school. Iowa State’s focus on teaching you everything you need to know, from the book to the lab bench, has been essential.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am applying to graduate programs in crop science and biochemistry, with the hope to work on the improvement and development of crops relevant to the Midwest.
Ryan Wolf
Major: Animal Science
Why did you choose to attend Iowa State?
I picked Iowa State mainly because I wanted a school that had deep roots and history in agriculture. I want my future career to be helping producers and farmers, and I figured there is no better place and no place closer to home that accomplishes that like Iowa State. I made that decision easily.
What extracurricular activities have you been involved in as a student?
I started my sophomore year by joining the Dairy Science Club. I joined because I have a dairy background and interest. The club does a lot of education and outreach activities, which fit my interests well. I was elected as the club’s CALS Council representative. After that, being on the CALS Council allowed me to get selected as a co-chair for CALS Week. I kept with both of those organizations and just finished up terms of service as president of the Dairy Science Club and vice president for CALS Council.
What has been your favorite class and why?
My favorite class would be ANS 3310: Domestic Animal Reproduction, taught by Professor Jodi Sterle. This was a class I was very intimidated to take because I was a young sophomore. Everyone talked about the caliber that Professor Sterle held her students to. She holds her students to that caliber because she knows they have it in them to do well. She pushed and challenged me to think critically to help make concepts make sense. That class taught me how to be a better learner, and it opened a door to finding what I was interested in within the animal science degree.
How has Iowa State prepared you for your future career?
At Iowa State, it’s not just about education. There are components of both professional and personal development. Iowa State has a million opportunities for you to get involved. Whether it is joining a club or the different classes you can take to tailor an education here that smaller schools around the country don’t always have. I think Iowa State does a great job at creating not just an academically sound student, but a well-rounded person.
What is the best advice you would give an underclassman?
Don’t be afraid to make the first move or be in the driver’s seat. You can come here and sign up for everything your friends do, or you can take control of your own learning and development as a person. When you find your own niche, it only makes you a better person.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am looking into graduate schools to study animal science with the long-term goal of becoming a professor who has a research component. This will allow me to not only educate students but do research that helps make the lives of everyday producers easier.