By Dr. Antonio Faciola
The UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Hayen-Hissem Dairy Science Travel Endowment, established to support graduate student travel and professional development in dairy science.
Created in memory of Joyce Hayen and Mary Ellen Hissem, the endowment was established through the efforts of Dr. Deanne Meyer (University of California, Davis), who initiated the fundraising campaign, together with many faculty, alumni, colleagues, and friends of the department. Their collective generosity created a lasting legacy that will support graduate students for generations to come.
This year marks the first presentation of the award. The inaugural recipients are Giovanni Ladeira, a Ph.D. student under the mentorship of Dr. Fernanda Rezende, and Savitha Saikumar, an M.S. student under the mentorship of Dr. Diwakar Vyas. Each received a $700 travel award to attend the 2026 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Annual Meeting, where they represented the University of Florida by presenting their research and competing in national student competitions.
Both students represented UF with distinction at ADSA. Giovanni received the 2026 Southern Branch Production Division Paper Competition Award (Ph.D. Division), while Savitha earned Third Place in the 2026 Purina Animal Nutrition Poster Competition (Production Division, M.S.). Their accomplishments exemplify the excellence of UF graduate students and demonstrate the value of providing opportunities for young scientists to share their research, build professional networks, and engage with the broader scientific community.
The Hayen-Hissem Endowment honors the remarkable legacy of two members of the Department of Animal Sciences who were essential to the success of the department and made it a supportive and happy place to work.
Joyce Hayen joined the then Dairy Science Department in 1984 as a laboratory technician and worked in one position or another almost to her passing in 2021. She served as friend, mentor and mother for many international students and was a good colleague to staff and faculty.
Also in 1984, Mary Ellen Hissem began work as a secretary when her husband Dale Hissem became manager of the Dairy Research Unit. She quickly became an unofficial den mother to many faculty and students.
Good friends, Joyce and Mary Ellen were the source of much friendship, laughter, and fun in the department. Graduate school can be a stressful time, especially for international students who are so far from home, and Joyce and Mary Ellen played a critical role in ensuring the success and happiness of many students. Through this endowment, their legacy lives on by helping future dairy scientists participate in professional meetings, present their research, and advance their careers.
The Department extends its sincere gratitude to all of the donors whose generosity transformed this vision into a permanent source of student support. Their investment is already making a meaningful difference in the professional development of our graduate students, and it will continue to do so for years to come.
If you would like to help expand opportunities for future graduate students, please consider supporting the Hayen-Hissem Dairy Science Travel Endowment.
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