A closer look at CALS' Outstanding Seniors
Neena O'Mara
Major: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Hometown: Montgomery, New Jersey
Favorite memory: "My time as a Hokie ambassador. I have had students tell me that I played a role in their decision to attend Virginia Tech."
Next step: Medical school at Vanderbilt University
Salem Sifford
Major: Dairy Science
Hometown: Snow Camp, North Carolina
Favorite memory: "Being part of both the dairy and livestock judging teams. I'm especially proud of competing at the first national Top Judge event and getting to learn from industry leaders. My professors supported me every step of the way - both in and out of the classroom."
Next step: M.S. in Animal Science; aspiring professor and livestock judging coach
Samantha Corduan
Major: Crop and Soil Sciences, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Hometown: Edenton, North Carolina
Favorite memory: "Participating in the events that bring our university and community like the 3.2 for 32 Run in Remembrance, Thank-a-Donor Day, and The Big Event, remind me what it means to be a Hokie and practice Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). There truly is no community like Hokie Nation, and these events are what make Virginia Tech feel most like home."
Next step: Precision agriculture at PrairieLand Partners, a leading John Deere dealership; then pursuing an M.S. in Agricultural Education and Communications at Kansas State University
Jacqueline Hou
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: Blacksburg, Virginia
Favorite memory: "Presenting my cancer research at Engelpalooza was a proud moment that highlighted how far I'd come as a student researcher."
Next step: Working as a medical scribe during a gap year before applying to medical school.
Elizabeth Sicking
Major: M.S. in Life Sciences - Entomology
Hometown: Leesburg, Virginia
Favorite memory. "Hands down, the people and the friendships I've made. Being in an environrnent where people are doing incredible research they're passionate about is incredibly motivating."
Next step: Coastal wetland monitoring with the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program; then a Ph.D. focused on aquatic-terrestrial food web interactions
Rob Starr
Major: Agricultural Technology, Landscape and Turf Management
Previous career: U.S. Coast Guard (retired)
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Favorite memory: "Just going to class every day and the fact the younger generation of my fellow student colleagues accepted me — that's something I'll always remember. They are an awesome group of future leaders."
Next step: Assistant superintendent at High Meadows Golf and Country Club in North Carolina
Liv Huselton
Major: Food and Technology
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Favorite memory: "The best thing I've done is simply saying 'yes' and getting involved."
Next step: Research and development scientist at The Hershey Company
Jack Wilson
Major: Agricultural and Applied Economics Environmental Economics. Management & Policy
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Favorite memory: "Being a part of COINS has made my time at Virginia Tech truly unique — it's an experience that sets this university apart, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity."
Next step: Entering commodity trading, with plans to launch his own business
Sofia Killar
Major: Animal and Poultry Sciences
Hometown: CollegeviIle, Pennsylvania
Favorite memory: "Volunteering at the animal shelter with my sorority friends. It felt good to give back to the community, and it brought us closer together."
Next step: M.S. in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health at Virginia Tech
Erica Feuerstein
Major: Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education
Hometown: Middletown, Virginia
Favorite memory: Helping with the April 16 Memorial by creating floral arrangements and wreaths for the ceremony. "It's incredibly moving to see the campus come together during such a meaningful week for the Hokie community."
Next step: Master's program at the University of Kentucky"
CONGRATS, GRADS!