by Lana Koepke Johnson | Agronomy and Horticulture
Four University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Online Program master’s students were awarded the Distance Education Online Fellowship. These students include Jonathan Price, Scott Womack, Lauren Quackenbush and Janet Falk.
Price received a bachelor’s degree in plant science from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He is a senior agronomist for Sterman Masser Potato Farms in Sacramento, Pennsylvania.
“Nebraska was unique in that I could pursue an online master's degree and still conduct a thesis experiment,” Price said. “Nebraska's faculty and resources seemed to compliment a lot of the research work I already do at Sterman Masser, including potato variety and potato agronomic trialing for Pennsylvania’s conditions.
Advised by agronomy and horticulture professor Don Lee, Price’s research will involve evaluating the use of humic acid in-furrow at planting with potatoes. Along with Lee, Price is working with agronomy and horticulture assistant professor of practice Christian Stephenson and agronomy and horticulture associate professor of practice Meghan Sindelar.
Womack has a bachelor’s degree in crop science from California State University, Chico, and is an assistant farm manager for Schohr Ranch in Gridley, California. He chose to do an online degree because it fit well with his full-time career schedule and gives him the flexibility to work on classes when he isn’t busy with planting and harvest.
“I chose to study at Nebraska due to the flexibility of the program and the goal of expanding my education base by learning from people outside my homebase area,” Womack said.
Womack’s research project will involve a new method of preplant nitrogen fertilizer in rice. He is advised by Sindelar.
“The resources provided by UNL are second to none the best I have experienced,” Womack said. “The willingness from every person to help with any issue that might arise is a joy to experience and it really makes me look forward to my time as a student again.”
Quackenbush began the online master’s program in 2022 and was the first student to be awarded the fellowship for 2023. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in wildland soil science. She is advised by Michael Kaiser, agronomy and horticulture assistant professor for applied soil chemistry.
Falk began the online master’s program in 2023. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in plant science. She is studying plant breeding and genetics and is advised by Lee.
Created by the department’s Distance Education Committee, this fellowship award is for online agronomy master’s students who were accepted into the program. Students can apply for the 2025 fellowship in November 2024 by submitting their curriculum vita, a personal statement of their education goals and how the award will help them in the program.
Nebraska’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Online Program helps agricultural professionals advance their careers by offering a wide selection of affordable, flexible and 100% online plant science courses and modules that are taught by distinguished faculty who are committed to student success. Not only are the programs accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, but students also have access to a strong support network of like-minded students, faculty and staff.
Nebraska’s agronomy and horticulture online graduate programs offered include:
- Master of Science in Agronomy
- Advanced Horticulture Graduate Certificate
- Agronomy Graduate Certificate
- Grasslands Management Certificate
- Plant Breeding & Genetics Badge (non-academic credit)
For more information contact Lisa Hilfiker, agronomy and horticulture graduate program coordinator, at lisa.hilfiker@unl.edu.
