Ethan Drake receives Ferguson College of Agriculture award

On Sept. 2, William Meinert, of Lone Wolf, Okla., was named the 2025 Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture Outstanding Transfer Student. Additionally, Ethan Drake, of Norwood, and Chyann Emerson, of Tuttle, Okla., were named 2025 recipients of the Ferguson College Transfer Excellence Award.
The Ferguson College Outstanding Transfer Student Award and Transfer Excellence awards are given to transfer students who demonstrated exemplary growth and achievement in academics, college involvement and professional development during their first year at OSU.
Meinert is an agribusiness and accounting major. He is involved in the Department of Agricultural Economics as a member of Aggie-X and the Ag Economics Quiz Bowl Team. He currently serves as secretary of the Ferguson College Student Council.
After transferring from Western Oklahoma State College, Meinert said he focused on pursuing leadership opportunities and making a difference on campus.
“When I transferred, I felt uneasy, but I knew opportunities lay ahead that would not only contribute to personal development but also allow me to impact the college as a whole,” he said. “To say the Ferguson College has contributed to my goals is an understatement.”
Drake, an agricultural education major, transferred from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. He is active in the Swine Club, Collegiate FFA, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and Block and Bridle. Additionally, Drake completed undergraduate research at the OSU Swine Research and Education Unit.
Drake said he is grateful for the connections he has made in the college and within the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership.
“I have loved being a part of the clubs we have on campus as well as other organizations, and the connections I have made within my cohort will be both professional and personal relationships I will take with me for the rest of my life,” he said. “From studying in Ag Hall, helping judge contests, or driving around Stillwater, the memories are endless.”
Emerson is an agricultural communications and agribusiness major. Since transferring to OSU, she has participated in the Livestock Judging Team, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, and Block and Bridle.
Although the transfer process presented challenges, Emerson said she found a home in the Ferguson College.
“As I began to put down roots here, I started to find a true home, and academically, I have been pushed more than ever before,” she said.
“I began to feel excited as I sat through classes where I truly felt like I was learning. Not just gaining knowledge but learning things I can apply to any job within my degree field.”
Meinert said being a transfer student in the Ferguson College taught him to define and test his limitations, while focusing on being present in academic and extracurricular opportunities. He encourages other transfer students to get involved and embrace new experiences.
“Take on as many opportunities as you can, strive for excellence and expect more of yourself,” he said.
“Through this pursuit, failure will always be imminent and take place when most inconvenient. You must be able to hear ‘no,’ however difficult it may be, as there is always a better opportunity over the hill for those willing to climb it.”
Attending his first class at OSU, Drake said he felt reassured in his decision to continue his college education. Each class he has taken has allowed him to gain knowledge that will help him to succeed in his future career, he said.
“The faculty and staff in the agricultural education program are deeply invested in us as students, future educators and people,” he said.
“Whether it was gaining feedback from a micro teaching in the teaching lab, sitting in one of their offices after class, or standing outside of the classroom doors where we always seemed to congregate, they are always there to listen to anything we have to ask, following it with a solution and a genuine answer.”
Alongside her academics and involvement, Emerson said she found a sense of community and belonging in the Ferguson College.
“It’s exciting to wake up every day and be surrounded by like-minded peers who are driven and passionate, and I’m confident that by being surrounded by Ferguson College faculty, staff and students, I’ve grown,” she said. “I’ve seen how surrounding myself with other driven, reliable individuals has inspired and pushed me to become a more focused, passionate individual.”
The Ferguson College of Agriculture believes in the value of hands-on education and the importance of having a well-rounded student experience. T
he college’s award-winning faculty members are dedicated to developing students and are passionate about adding value to the total educational experience. With 16 majors, a variety of study options and more than 60 student organizations, the college is committed to expanding minds and inspiring purpose.
Learn more at agriculture.okstate.edu.