UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Plant sciences graduate Christopher Little has been selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award for the 2024-25 academic year in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
The Outstanding Senior Award, sponsored by the college’s Alumni Society and the Coaly Society, honors the senior who best balances outstanding academics, extracurricular activities, work experience and communication skills. Candidates are selected based on resumes, grades, interviews and a short essay.
Little, of Vincentown, New Jersey, graduated in May with a degree in plant sciences, crop production option, and served as the student marshal for the Department of Plant Science at commencement.
“Chris was an extremely good student academically, but he was also well-rounded and came to Penn State with a wealth of agricultural, on-farm experience,” said Dan Kniffen, assistant professor of animal science. “Even before college, he was truly a working partner on his family’s farm, and he was able to share his experiences with his fellow students. Chris also was open-minded and wanted to soak up as much information as he possibly could, because he was already thinking ahead to how it was going to help him when he got back home.”
Little said he knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in agriculture and farming. He said he feels fortunate to return to the farm after graduation to work full-time. The farm produces a variety of crops, and Little hopes to expand into beef in the future.
“I came home because I felt like there was a lot of opportunity here, and the world needs more farmers,” he said.
Little explained that the social and professional development opportunities he had at Penn State were unmatched. “It’s good to be able to connect with industry professionals and build my network,” he said. “Having access to professors who can answer questions, and who want to share their knowledge and research, is incredible.”
For Little, getting involved on campus in addition to his rigorous academic schedule was key to making the most of his time at Penn State.
“Get involved, take every opportunity that comes to you,” he said. “You don’t fully realize how important your classes and the things you’re learning are until you go to apply them.”
During his time at Penn State, Little held multiple leadership roles, including vice president of Alpha Zeta fraternity, president of the Agronomy Club and head chair of the Dairy Science Club’s 2023 Spring Dairy Expo. He also was a member of the college’s Block and Bridle Club.
In 2024, Little was a recipient of the College of Ag Sciences Scholarship and the keynote speaker at the college’s scholarships and awards donor celebration. He also received the Dr. David A. Morrow III Alpha Zeta Scholarship, the Harry R. and Kathleen E. Ulrich Scholarship, and the Edgar E. and Dorothy W. Fehnel Scholarship.
“The best thing about my Penn State degree is walking away with an understanding of the science behind farming and first-hand experience with new industry practices,” Little said. “It’s going to allow me to unlock new opportunities on our farm.”