Economics Student Awards | Department of Economics | BYU-Idaho

# Economics Student Awards

## The Ezra Taft Benson Award

The Ezra Taft Benson Award is named in memory of the former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who also served as the Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower administration. Benson was an agricultural economics major and was hard-working, inspiring, and honest - a true exemplar of excellence.

Additionally, Benson was an accomplished practitioner of economics who used his gifts, talents, and means to build the Kingdom of God and serve his country. His many writings about gospel doctrine and about the principles of sound government continue to inspire generations of Latter-day Saints and students of good citizenship.

****This award is given to students who are honored for their character, academic performance, and desire to build the Kindgdom of God.****

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## 2025 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Peter Bevans

**Agribusiness**

Kylee Jensen

**Economics**

## 2025 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Rafael Silva

**Financial Economics**

Brian Whitney

**Economics**

## 2024 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Hyrum Anderson

**Financial Economics**

Dallin Hibbard

**Agricultural Economics**

Chin Lam

**Economics**

McKay Rigby

**Agribusiness**

## 2024 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Daniela Alejandra Valarezo Veloz

**Financial Economics**

## 2024 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Kaitlynn Sorensen

**Agribusiness**

Andrew Allen

**Financial Economics**

Jarom Wardwell

**Financial Economics**

Isaac Williams

**Financial Economics**

## 2023 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jacob Gifford

**Economics**

Riley Walburger

**Economics**

## 2023 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Elijah Miller

**Financial Economics**

## 2023 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Tyler Blazzard

**Agribusiness**

Isabelle Keck

**Economics**

Byron Whitehead

**Economics**

Tai Wu

**Economics**

## 2022 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Thomas Fehr

**Financial Economics**

Jarom Hall

**Economics**

Lindsey Monk

**Agribusiness**

## 2022 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Alexander Aitchison

**Economics**

Regan Callahan

**Agribusiness**

Joshua Guerra

**Financial Economics**

Jefferson Omokoh

**Economics**

## 2022 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Matthew Davidson

**Agribusiness**

Jae Wook Junk

**Economics**

Grace Libey

**Financial Economics**

Dallin Obeng

**Economics**

Matheus Ribeiro

**Financial Economics**

Ethan Williams

**Agribusiness**

## 2021 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Rebekkah Amende

**Agribusiness**

Landon Hallmark

**Economics**

Sarah Yamashita

**Economics**

Naomi Kallmeyer

**Financial Economics**

## 2021 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Exode Niyonkuru

**Agricultural Economics**

Ethan Moulton

**Financial Economics**

Brian Ogollah

**Financial Economics**

## 2021 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Andries van Heerden

**Agribusiness**

Ryan Gifford

**Economics**

Conner Erikson

**Financial Economics**

Taylor Williams

**Financial Economics**

## 2020 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Emilio Figueroa

**Agribusiness**

Tyson Christensen

**Agricultural Economics**

Matthew Anderson

Financial Economics

Cassidy Farar

**Financial Economics**

Keaton Parkinson

**Financial Economics**

## 2020 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jacob Nae'ole

**Economics**

Tyler Partridge

**Economics**

Michelle Roberts

**Economics**

Madalyn Young

**Financial Economics**

## 2020 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Brent Rowley

**Agribusiness**

Braylie Stevens

**Agribusiness**

Benjamin Craig

**Economics**

Braden Madsen

**Financial Economics**

Cole Nukaya

**Financial Economics**

## 2019 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Skyler Thornton

**Economics**

Amanda Snell

**Economics**

## 2019 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Calvin Grover

**Agribusiness**

Iliya Krutko

**Financial Economics**

Mike Walburger

**Financial Economics**

## 2018 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Zachary Johnson

**Agribusiness**

Andrew Benson

**Financial Economics**

## 2018 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Travis Pointer

**Financial Economics**

Chandler Rounds

**Agricultural Economics**

Lee Shurtleff

**Agribusiness**

Charles Wilkosz

**Financial Economics**

## 2017 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Tanner Fonnesbeck

**Agribusiness**

Alec Nelson

**Agribusiness**

## 2017 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jaron Crapo

**Financial Economics**

Sarah Nielsen

**Economics**

Jesse Merkley

**Economics**

## 2017 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Trevor Schmidt

**Agribusiness**

Blaine Frogget

**Economics**

## 2016 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Zachary Harman

**Agribusiness**

Elliot Mateski

**Economics**

Jaden Talbot

**Financial Economics**

## 2016 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Bryan Overy

**Agribusiness**

Corey Eaton

**Financial Economics**

Ryan Quackenbush

**Financial Economics**

## 2015 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Josh Tibbitts

**Economics**

Trey Bluemel

**Financial Economics**

Tyson Nicoll

**Agribusiness**

## 2015 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Grayson Bowman

**Economics**

Moriah Horner

**Economics**

Kaleb Nygaard

**Financial Economics**

Amber Waite

**Financial Economics**

## 2015 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Nathan Garner

**Agribusiness**

Andrew Gordon

**Financial Economics**

Kegan O'Connor

**Economics**

Avery Robertson

**Agribusiness**

Emanuel Rodgriquez

**Financial Economics**

## 2014 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jessica Bahr

**Agribusiness**

Todd Godfrey

**Economics**

Mitch Murphy

**Financial Economics**

## 2014 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jennifer Smith

**Agribusiness**

Devin Thornton

**Agribusiness**

Kevin Poaletti

**Economics**

Daniel Price

**Economics**

Jonathan Weber

**Financial Economics**

## 2013 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Darek Jentzch

**Agribusiness**

Scott Bouwhuis

**Financial** **Economics**

Sebastian Schaat

**Economics**

Beth Nielsen

**Financial Economics**

## 2013 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Ryan Burkhardt

**Economics**

Justin Baker

**Financial Economics**

Garin Rydalch

**Financial Economics**

## 2013 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Kelsey Wilson

**Agribusiness**

Hyrum Anderson

**Financial Economics**

Brent Thornton

**Financial Economics**

## 2012 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Ben Turnbow

**Agribusiness**

Erin Shiffler

**Economics**

Aaron Matthews

**Financial Economics**