Congratulations to Ella Poling for taking home 2nd place in the Results Posters Category at the Graduate Research Symposium. The Graduate Research Symposium is an annual event hosted by the HCS Graduate Student Association that provides HCS students and faculty from both our Wooster and Columbus campuses the opportunity to come together to share their research!
Ella is currently pursuing her master's degree under the advisement of Dr. Alyssa Essman. We're thrilled to have Ella in our department and fortunately she had a few moments to shed some further insight into her experiences at the 2025 Graduate Research Symposium...
What were your thoughts on winning this award?
I was shocked and honored to have won this award! There are very high-quality students within the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science that had fantastic posters. However, I am extremely thankful to my Advisor Dr. Alyssa Essman who always has faith in me, and the judges who voted. Receiving this award was a great end to my first year of my master's program!
How was the GRS for you overall?
I had a lot of fun at GRS this year! I enjoyed getting to hear all the student's success they have had throughout their research programs. My favorite part was the social afterwords and getting to meet students I have only seen over zoom!
How’s your research going currently?
I have just begun my collaboration with the 14 other universities I will be working with, and field season will start for me as soon as it stops raining!
Closing Thoughts?
I would like to thank my lab mates, Dr. Alyssa Essman, Tony Dobbels, and Colin Barclay for all their help and support throughout my program!
Eager for more news from our 2025 Graduate Research Symposium? You're in luck - check out all the articles here.