Celebrating Excellence: Announcing the 2025 Ontario Pest Management Conference Student Competition Winners
- ontariopmc
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
We extend our congratulations to the impressive achievements of our students at the 2025 Ontario Pest Management Conference (OPMC). This year’s Student Competition brought forth innovative research and engaging presentations from both undergraduate and graduate students, highlighting the future of pest management.
We are excited to unveil the winners of this year’s competition, which included categories for Graduate Oral, Graduate Poster, and Undergraduate Poster presentations. Each participant brought fresh insights and rigorous research to the table, making it a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Graduate Oral Presentation Winners
The Graduate Oral category featured outstanding presentations that not only showcased scientific rigor but also effective communication of complex ideas.
1st Place
Awarded to Kelly Ruigrok from the University of Guelph for her presentation on endophytic colonization of Beauvaria bassiana to manage clubroot on cabbage.
2nd Place
Awarded to Natasha Weppler from the University of Guelph-Ridgetown for her research on optimizing the artificial diet of the western bean cutworm, Striacosta albiocosta, for lab rearing and Bacillus thuringiensis susceptibility monitoring.
These awards were presented on behalf of CropLife Canada.
Graduate Poster Presentation Winners
The Graduate Poster category showcased a high level of creativity and engagement, with participants visually communicating their research in compelling ways.
1st Place
Awarded to McKenna Campbell from the University of Guelph for her poster on rhizosphere microbiome responses to clubroot infection in canola.
2nd Place
Awarded to Carly Demers from the University of Guelph and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Her poster examined the preferred host plant for oviposition of three Canadian Dicyphus species and the adventive Nesidicoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae).
These awards were also presented on behalf of CropLife Canada.
Undergraduate Poster Presentation Winner
In the Undergraduate Poster category, the top honor went to Amber Witley from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness. Amber’s research focus was on the habits and life cycle of Herpetogramma thestealis on American ginseng.
This award, presented by the OPMC in honour of Dr. C. Ron Harris, serves as a platform for encouraging emerging researchers to share their work and gain firsthand experience in presenting their findings.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We extend our sincere gratitude to the judging panel for their dedication and expertise in evaluating the presentations. Their commitment to developing the next generation of pest management professionals is vital. The feedback and insights they provided will undoubtedly assist these students in their academic and professional journeys.
Acknowledging Our Achievements
The 2025 Ontario Pest Management Conference Student Competition was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible talent and innovation within the field of pest management. The winners—Kelly Ruigrok, Natasha Weppler, McKenna Campbell, Carly Demers, and Amber Witley—have set a high standard for future participants, and we eagerly anticipate their future contributions to the field.
As we celebrate these achievements, let us continue to rally behind our students as they pursue excellence in pest management. Together, we can foster a community that values innovation, research, and collaboration. Congratulations once again to all the winners!
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