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.
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
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