Continuing with our celebration of this year’s CALS Awards recipients, this week we are recognizing Eric Ronk, winner of the Arthur J. and Ellen A. Maurer Extra Mile Award.

Ellen Maurer originally established this as the Arthur J. Maurer Extra Mile Award in 1999 in memory of her husband, a CALS poultry and food scientist and assistant dean for International Agricultural Programs. It has since been renamed to also memorialize Ellen, who enjoyed a vibrant career as a teacher, writer, editor, photographer, and international science communicator. She served as a publications editor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication and as a senior university relations specialist for CALS. This award is unique because nominations are exclusively made by students. Minda Maurer, daughter of Arthur and Ellen Maurer, helped Dean Gillaspy present the award.

This year’s recipient is Eric Ronk, teaching faculty member in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. Ronk exemplifies the spirit of this award through his unwavering commitment to enhancing the educational experience of his students. Due to his dedication to mentoring students, creating hands-on learning opportunities, and actively improving the overall student experience, he had multiple students nominate him.

Ronk has been a mentor for countless students, investing time to understand the students’ academic, professional and personal goals. His open-door policy has made it easy for students to feel supported. He serves as one of the advisors for the Badger Dairy Club where he provides mentorship to the student board on experiential learning trips. He also is the faculty advisor for the Dairy Challenge team, where he facilitates team practices and travels to regional and national competitions.

Ronk goes the extra mile, developing innovative opportunities that bridge classroom knowledge and real-world application. To better enhance student’s understanding of animal sciences, he has organized field trips to local farms and agricultural businesses and facilitated internships with industry leaders. He’s also taken on additional responsibilities in recruiting prospective undergraduate students.

Ronk, without a doubt, makes a positive impact on the students he teaches, guides and works alongside. His commitment to student success inspires young minds to explore the different career paths open to them.