Davis Named 2019 Distinguished Senior at The Ohio State University

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Lindsay Davis of Cygnet, Ohio has been named a 2019 Distinguished Senior at The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). “The Distinguished Senior Award is the most prestigious undergraduate award in CFAES, recognizing the top graduating seniors from each of the academic units on the Columbus campus,” said Steven Neal, CFAES associate dean and director of academic programs.

Davis, a food business management major from Wood County, was honored at an on-campus awards dinner on March 27 where all 25 distinguished CFAES seniors will be recognized.The CFAES Distinguished Senior Award honors academic, disciplinary and professional excellence. “One of the hallmarks of our College is an emphasis on student success, and it is heartwarming to see it exemplified through the accomplishments of our students,” Neal said. “Recipients are our future innovators and leaders who have already made an impact within the academic environment at this university and beyond.”

Julie Townsend, administrative manager in the Department of Food Science and Technology and a Davis nominator, wrote, “Lindsay is the first to admit that college was not an easy transition for her. One of her biggest challenges came during her second semester. After long discussions with mentors and individuals throughout the department, she made the decision to change her major to food business management from food science. She immediately knew it was the right decision and she has been successful ever since.”

Davis serves as chapter president for the Ohio State National Agri-Marketing Association student chapter, secretary of the CFAES Student Council, and social chair of the Ohio State Agri-Business Club, and vice president of outreach on the Student Philanthropy Council. She was also a member of the Towers Agricultural Honorary and served on the planning committee for the CFAES Celebration of Students Banquet. Davis has also participated in the Second Year Transformational Experience Program, was a BuckeyeThon participant, served as an Experience Ohio State for a Day host, and participated in a Buck-I-Serve trip, Ohio State’s alternative break program, where she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Louisiana.

Within the Department of Food Science and Technology, Davis was selected as a Food Science Peer mentor. The peer mentor program was the first in the college to pair upperclass students with incoming freshman and transfer students to assist them throughout their first year. “Representing the food business major, Lindsay is a great resource to students who have questions, whether it be about the major, what classes to take, or where they should live next year,” wrote Townsend.

For four years, Davis was also a student employee at Ohio States’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, where the Farm Science Review is held each year. Her role continued to grow, as she transitioned from crew member to a crew leader. She developed a variety of skills, built relationships, and provided leadership to incoming student staff. Davis also completed two internships, the first with Dairy Farmers of America where she monitored quality metrics, created a database to track purchasing patterns, and interacted with farmers and industry professionals.

Her second internship was in corporate quality assurance with The J.M. Smucker Company in Orrville, Ohio. She participated in strategy planning, evaluated a current product, and completed a quality audit in a Smucker production facility, along with other projects and tasks throughout the facility.

After graduation, Davis will relocate to Longmont, Colorado to work for the The J.M. Smucker Company as a quality specialist in a brand new production facility.