Families equipped with nets traipsed through the woods with an entomologist in search of bugs. Kids learned how to cast with fishing poles. The cornhole game was adjacent to enormous drones used by top geomatics scientists. Winners of the mini Tree Quest contest took home saplings.
On Saturday (April 11, 2026) more than 300 faculty, researchers, students, staff, alumni, and family members showed up at UF/IFAS Austin Cary Forest to celebrate UF’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science (SFFGS) programs and accomplishments.
This was the 14th year for the event that serves as more than a dinner and awards ceremony.
SFFGS Director Red Baker made sure to thank all the family and friends of SFFGS faculty, staff and students, “For your continued support,” as he acknowledged that due to working long hours or traveling to faraway places to conduct research, family support makes all the difference.
“Spring Celebration is an annual open house for faculty, staff, students, friends, families, and partners of UF’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences,” he said. “Outdoor activities and interactive educational stations provide visitors the opportunity to see, touch, and experience the work we do in the school. And, each year, the Spring Celebration awards luncheon provides the opportunity to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our friends, colleagues, and students over the previous year.
According to Baker, SFFGS awarded more $130,000 in scholarships in 2025. “Our students also receive CALS scholarships,” he added.
Baker kicked off the awards portion of the event by announcing SFFGS Assistant Director and Forester Scott Sager as the recipient of the Outstanding Staff Member award.
“There aren’t many aspects of life within SFFGS that Scott doesn’t somehow interact with,” Baker said. “He is primarily responsible for much of the SFFGS teaching program, facilities, and the Austin Cary Forest; however, his experience with the school and the Florida forestry profession translates to almost all aspects of what we do.”
The Outstanding Program Staff Member award was presented to two recipients: SFFGS Geomatics Program Specialist Ali Gonzalez and Geomatics Instructional Designer Alejandro Perez.
“Alejandro’s heart is to serve the students and the program. His talk has most definitely been backed up by his walk. Alejandro is the type of person to always volunteer to work amongst peers to achieve a common goal. His industry experience before arriving at our school has been a huge asset for our program and our students,” Baker said.
“Ali’s unwavering commitment to geomatics student success, stakeholder engagement, the advancement of the geomatics profession, and the realization of the SFFGS and UF/IFAS mission exemplifies the spirit of this award,” Baker continued.
Former SFFGS Director Wayne Smith and his wife were called on stage as Baker presented Dr. Smith with the Distinguished Service Award. A standing ovation erupted.
Dr. Smith served as SFFGS’ fifth director from May 5, 1995, through 2003. He worked as a forest biologist with the USDA Cooperative State Research Service and as federal agency liaison for IFAS on two faculty leaves from the university. His research programs have targeted forest soils, nutrition and biogeochemical cycling, biomass energy, and organics composting and utilization.
The Director’s Service Award went to Fishing For Success Lead Volunteer Bob Centofanti who is steadfast in his rule that he announces to students and families who visit the ponds at the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Millhopper Unit. “If you catch a bass, you gotta kiss it,” he always announces.
Here is the list of awards presented:
Graduate awards:
*Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year
Abigail Belchior
*Graduate Student Excellence in Outreach and Extension
Katherine Henning
*FAS Outstanding Thesis Award
Kelly Chase
Supervisor: Quenton Tuckett & Jeff Hill
“Fish Assemblage Shift Following Abrupt Seagrass Loss in a Southwest Florida Tidal Creek”
*FAS Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year
Jayme Yee
*FAS Outstanding Dissertation Award
Cheyenne Stratton
Supervisors: Lindsey Reisinger
“Investigating the Role of Pathogens in Crayfish Invasion Dynamics”
* FRC Outstanding Masters Student of the Year
Alexander Gaskins
*FRC Outstanding Thesis Award
Noah Weidig
Supervisor: Victoria Donovan
“Patterns and Drivers of Large Wildfires Within and Surrounding the Wildland-Urban Interface of the Eastern United States”
* FRC Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year
Lillian Dinkins
*FRC Outstanding Dissertation Award
Denver Cayetano
Supervisor: Daniel Johnson
“Tree Response to Lianas and Liana-Cutting after Cyclones in Belize”
Sharon Fitz-Coy Scholarship (Graduate)
Jayme Yee
Undergraduate awards:
Florida Surveying and Mapping Society Scholarship
Lucia De Thomas
William Payne
Reese Veerkamp
Robert Wright
Joshua Maxwell
Mihajlo Grkovic
Joshua Nelson
William Bramley
Bradley Collins
Katie Howard
David Lutz
Mason Mcloughlin
Charles Andregg Memorial Scholarship
Jocelyn Wood
Sean Stroud
Matthew Edmunds
Wesley Asmus
Carl Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Mason Mcloughlin
Mark Eckl Memorial Scholarship
Katie Howard
Dr. David W. Gibson Scholarship for Geomatics
Wesley Asmus
Lucia De Thomas
Esteban Rivera
Jocelyn Wood
CivilSurv Geomatics Scholarship
Devin Nichols
Sean Stroud
Dr. David W. Gibson Student Networking and Communication Skills Development Scholarship
Wesley Asmus
Derek Bendell
Joshua Maxwell
Esteban Rivera
Sean Stroud
Robert Wright
SFFGS Marine Sciences Undergraduate Scholarship
Lily Frierson
Tzu-Han Chen
Colby Webre
Madelyn Marshall
Maya Palacios
Jeremy Flitt
Katherine McCracken
Sharon Fitz-Coy Scholarship (Undergraduate)
Mia Bumgarten
SAF Rising Senior
Lila Runnels
SAF Graduating Senior
Trenton Waters
Roland T. Stern Scholarship
Griffin Miller
Caden Reed
Lila Runnels
Tyler “Tyce” Hall Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Adrianna Loper
Jim and Joh Lybass Forest Landowners Scholarship
William Dervinis
Daniel Longo
Megan Morales
Alexis Nobles
Katelin Reisinger
Rebecca Stephens
Audrey Zhang
David Conser Cooperative Forestry Assistance Scholarship
Adrianna Loper
Trenton Waters
Anelise Bullard
Alexander King
Taija Santos
J.B. Adkins Memorial Scholarship
Anelise Bullard
Hailey Murphy
Ariatna Illescas
Lila Runnels
Emily Wells
Taija Santos
Nicholas Huber
Kellie Parsons
Taylor Blair
Rameen Awan
Ariella Jacobson
Benjamin Barth
Bailey Berenson
David Covine
Genevieve Montgomery
LaFontaine Fellowship Endowment Fund
Erika Turkington
Logan Gatewood
Sarah Read
Kaitlyn Hammel
Bailey Berenson
Cecilia Aragon
Caila Duray
Daniel Hogan
William Olson
Ava Trail
Maya Lander
Jennifer Setchell
Jon Houghton
Natalie Vargas
Louis F. Conde Memorial Scholarship
Isaac Clark
Keira Barrett
Ariatna Illescas
Leigh A. Walker Memorial Scholarship
Emily Wells
William P. Shelley, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Will Dervinis
Caleb Houghton
Ryan Pratt
Bryan Rowland
Katelin Reisinger
Arial Bargeon
Leia Burks
Lily McGovern
Natalie Vargas
Jon and Carol Gould Family Endowed Forestry Scholarship
Ryan Pratt
Youth Competition Support Scholarship
Taija Santos
Newins-Ziegler Award (GPA)
Benjamin Barth
Soma Elefanti
Emily Hawkins
Robert Neighbors
Newins-Ziegler Award (Leadership)
Logan Coates
Austin Rupert
Celeste Schreiber
Trenton Waters
Wayne Smith Leadership Fund
Ben Barth
Trenton Waters
Outstanding Student Awards:
*Outstanding Marine Sciences Student
Lily Frierson
*Outstanding Forest Resources and Conservation Student
Adrianna Loper
*Outstanding Natural Resource Conservation Student
Bailey Berenson
*Outstanding Geomatics Student
Austin Rupert
Faculty of the Year Awards:
*Forest Resources and Conservation Faculty of the Year
Stephanie Bohlman
Chosen by the Forestry Graduate Student Organization (FGSO).
*Forestry Club Teacher of the Year
Tamara Cushing
Chosen by members of Forestry Club.
*Geomatics Faculty of the Year
Ben Wilkinson
Chosen by the Geomatics Student Association (GSA).
*Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Faculty of the Year
Robbie Lamb
Chosen by the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Graduate Student Organization (FAS-GSO).
Larry Korhnak Field Photography Award – Winner
Winner, Tim Martin
Chosen by Larry Korhnak, award winners receive a $250 cash prize and a personal print of their winning photo. A print will be mounted in Newins-Ziegler.
Larry Korhnak Field Photography Award Honorable Mentions
Michael Sipos
Brittney Lacy
Natalie Anderson
Jennifer Fill
Baylor Lynch
Baker acknowledged the retirement of Professor and Extension Specialist for Aquatic Medicine Ruth Francis-Floyd, Ph.D.
“Ruth’s impact reached far beyond her own clinical and scientific expertise. She showed extraordinary courage and determination early on by pursuing and completing her DVM at a time when few women were entering the profession, let alone stepping into leadership in an emerging field like aquatic animal health.
“While her expertise and knowledge are unprecedented, it was Ruth’s passion and compassion that made her so successful. Today, there are hundreds of veterinarians throughout the world — many now next generation leaders in the field — who got their feet wet because of the programs that Ruth started. Because of her strong, caring mentorship and skill at collaboration, UF/IFAS is world-renowned for our training and expertise in aquatic medicine.”
Link to the 2026 Spring Celebration photos by Suzette Cook here.
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