COLUMBUS, Ohio  — The Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at Ohio State University has named 14 students to the third class of ACEL Distinguished Seniors in 2021. These students were selected by the faculty and staff of the Department for their excellence both in and out of the classroom. 

2021 ACEL Distinguished Seniors include:

• Kolt Buchenroth, 

agricultural communication of Kenton 

• Sean Fitzsimmons, 

agriscience education of Wooster

• Melanie Fuhrmann, 

community leadership of Wheelersburg 

• Solomon Garner, 

community leadership of Columbus 

• Courtney Heiser, 

agricultural communication of Attica 

• Allyson Irwin, 

community leadership of Jackson 

• Shea Leeper, 

agricultural communication of    Marysville 

• Brenna Loxley, 

agriscience education of Greenville 

• Allyson McCurdy, 

community leadership of Marion 

• Oliva Pflaumer, 

agriscience education of Chillicothe

• Milan Pozderac, 

agriscience education of Fredericksburg 

• Paige Schaffter, 

agriscience education, of Bryan 

• Deja Reid, 

community leadership of Columbus 

• Kayla Ritter, 

community leadership of Brookville

“ACEL has outstanding students and we are excited to recognize these 14 seniors for their exceptional efforts in and outside of theclassrooms,” said Dr. Shannon Washburn, professor and chair of ACEL. “We know they will succeed in their chosen career paths because of the dedication they have shown to their academics and community involvement.”

The ACEL Distinguished Seniors will be recognized at the Department’s virtual recognition program in April.

ACEL prepares communicators, educators and leaders in the food, agricultural, and environmental sciences to integrate research-based learning, practice and engagement, in ways that will advance positive changes that strengthen individuals, families and communities. For more information on the academic programs and research available in ACEL, or to donate to student scholarships, please visit acel.osu.edu.