70th Annual Convocation Celebrates Agriculture and Life Sciences Students

Apr 14, 2026

By Mamie Hertel

Students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate outstanding achievement at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 70th annual Convocation on April 11 at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex.

The milestone event honored students from across the College with Senior Merit Awards, university-level student award nominations, and Outstanding Student Awards for a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Faculty members were recognized with the Gail W. and David P. Marion ’65 Teaching Award and the Honor Professor Award. The evening also celebrated the leadership and service of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council officers and Student Ambassadors.

2026 Senior Merit Awards

The Senior Merit Award is the highest honor given to undergraduates by the College. For over 50 years, this award has recognized graduating seniors who demonstrate leadership, scholarship and service at the department, college and university levels.

Students are nominated by their major, and winners are selected by the College scholarship committee based on academic excellence, community involvement, professional and civic engagement, internships, employment, awards, honors and achievements in undergraduate research. To be eligible, students must be projected to graduate during the 2026 calendar year.

Source : tamu.edu

Video: LALEXPERT: Sclerotinia cycle and prophylactic methods

White rot, also known as sclerotinia, is a common agricultural fungal disease caused by various virulent species of Sclerotinia. It initially affects the root system (mycelium) before spreading to the aerial parts through the dissemination of spores.

Sclerotinia is undoubtedly a disease of major economic importance, and very damaging in the event of a heavy attack.

All these attacks come from the primary inoculum stored in the soil: sclerotia. These forms of resistance can survive in the soil for over 10 years, maintaining constant contamination of susceptible host crops, causing symptoms on the crop and replenishing the soil inoculum with new sclerotia.