The American Society for Horticultural Science has announced the following awards in recognition of distinguished contributions to horticultural research, extension, and education. Nominees are evaluated through a rigorous review process, with final selections determined by the Awards Committee. The individuals listed below were formally recognized at the 2025 ASHS Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana:
Outstanding Extension Educator - Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
The ASHS Outstanding Extension Educator Award recognizes an educator who has made an
© American Society for Horticultural Science outstanding and valuable contribution to horticultural science extension education for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1985.
Dr. Lopez Is an Assistant Professor and Controlled Environment/Floriculture Extension Specialist at Michigan State University since 2016. His research examines how environmental factors in controlled-environment agriculture (greenhouses, growth rooms, plant factories, and vertical farms) affect the propagation and production of specialty crops such as floriculture, leafy greens, and herbs.
Outstanding Graduate Educator – Rhuanito Ferrarezi , University of Georgia
The ASHS Outstanding Graduate Educator Award recognizes an educator who has had a
© American Society for Horticultural Science distinguished and outstanding graduate education teaching career in horticultural science for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1985.
Dr. Ferrarezi is an Associate Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) at the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia. His program focuses on irrigation, plant nutrition and cropping systems, and emphasizes production issues confronting greenhouse and indoor farming production.
Outstanding Industry Scientist – Alicain Carlson, Syngenta Flowers
The ASHS Outstanding Industry Scientist Award recognizes a horticultural crops scientist working in the private sector who has made outstanding and valuable contributions to
© American Society for Horticultural Science horticultural science, the horticultural industry, and the horticultural profession for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1990.
Dr. Carlson was appointed head of Marketing – Americas for Syngenta Flowers in 2024. Previous to her appointment, she worked for Syngenta in multiple technical roles, from supporting data-driven product launches through trialing to generating technical grower resources and managing teams of specialists.
Syngenta Flowers North America is one of the largest wholesale breeders of hybrid flower seed and cuttings in the world – developing and producing flower seeds and cuttings for growers internationally.
Outstanding Undergraduate Educator - Marvin Pritts, Cornell University
The ASHS Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award recognizes an educator who has had a distinguished and outstanding undergraduate education teaching career in horticultural
© American Society for Horticultural Science science for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1985.
Dr. Pritts, a Cornell faculty member since 1984, serves as director of undergraduate studies for the SIPS Horticulture Section. He has won numerous teaching awards, including the Weiss award, honoring excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.
His research is focused on developing sustainable production methods for berry crops. A major focus is on environmental modifications, primarily using high and low tunnels, to produce tender crops (e.g. blackberries) in colder climates, and to extend the season into fall for strawberries and raspberries.
Outstanding Researcher – Genhua Niu, Texas A&M University
The ASHS Outstanding Researcher Award recognizes a horticultural crops scientist who has had an outstanding record in research on one or more horticultural crops and in one or more
© American Society for Horticultural Science areas of horticultural research for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1985.
Genhua Niu is a professor of urban agriculture at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas and in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.
Her areas of expertise are in controlled environment agriculture, indoor vertical farming and plant stress physiology. Her areas of special expertise are in environmental stress physiology, plant production in controlled environment, and photoautotrohic micropropagation.
Outstanding International Horticulturalist – Steven Sargent, University of Florida
The ASHS Outstanding International Horticulturist Award recognizes an international horticulturist who has made an outstanding and valuable contribution to international
© American Society for Horticultural Science horticultural science, education, research and/or outreach for a period of 10 or more years. This award was established in 1997.
Nominees must be Members of ASHS, actively working, and not previous recipients of the award or former equivalent awards.
Dr. Sargent is a professor and Extension postharvest specialist with statewide responsibility in postharvest physiology and technology for fresh vegetables and fruits. He is in the Horticulture Department, University of Florida-Gainesville. His extension program focuses on training methods and technologies to improve harvest and handling efficiency, and to make cooling operations more effective for maintaining crop quality.
Outstanding Leadership & Administration - Leonardo Lombardini, University of Georgia
The ASHS Outstanding Leadership and Administration Award recognizes sustained outstanding and effective leadership and administration contributing to the progress of
© American Society for Horticultural Science professional horticulture and having impact at the regional or national level. The award should recognize and promote interest and appreciation for sustained careers with superior leadership and administration for the improvement of horticultural science. This award was established in 2019.
Dr. Lombardini joined the University of Georgia as head of th Department of Horticulture in 2019. He came to UGA from Texas A&M University, where he served on the faculty for 17 years. He was also the founding director of the Center for Coffee Research and Education at the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture.
He specializes in plant physiology, gas exchange, and plant responses to environmental stress. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and delivered 100+ presentations worldwide. His teaching has covered plant physiology, global agricultural issues, and professional development in horticulture.
