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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 and also former 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. 

True at all times banner.

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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2019
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2015
2014
2013
2012

2024 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Hyrum Anderson - March 2024
Hyrum Anderson
Economics
Dallin Hibbard - March 2024
Dallin Hibbard
Economics
Chin Lam
Chin Lam
Economics
McKay Rigby
McKay Rigby
Economics

2023 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Jacob Gifford Portrait
Jacob Gifford
Economics
Riley Walburger Portrait
Riley Walburger
Economics

2023 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Portrait of Elijah Miller
Elijah Miller
Financial Economics

2023 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Tyler Blazzard
Tyler Blazzard
Agribusiness
Isabelle Keck - Dec 2023
Isabelle Keck
Economics
Byron Whitehead
Byron Whitehead
Economics
Tai Wu
Tai Wu
Economics

2022 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Thomas Fehr, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2022 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Thomas Fehr
Financial Economics
Photo of Jarom Hall, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2022 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jarom Hall
Economics
Photo of Thomas Fehr, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2022 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Lindsey Monk
Agribusiness

2022 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Alexander Aitchison, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2022 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Alexander Aitchison
Economics
Photo of Regan Callahan, winner of the the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2022 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Regan Callahan
Agribusiness
Photo of Joshua Guerra, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2022 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho
Joshua Guerra
Financial Economics
Photo of Jefferson Omokoh, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2022 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho
Jefferson Omokoh
Economics

2022 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Mathew Davidson winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Matthew Davidson
Agribusiness
Photo of Jae Wook Junk winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jae Wook Junk
Economics
Photo of Grace Libey, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Grace Libey
Financial Economics
Photo of Dallin Obeng, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Dallin Obeng
Economics
Photo of Matheus Ribeiro, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Matheus Ribeiro
Financial Economics
Photo of Ethan Williams, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2022 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Ethan Williams
Agribusiness

2021 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Rebekkah Amende, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2021 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Rebekkah Amende
Agribusiness
Photo of Landon Hallmark, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2021 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Landon Hallmark
Economics
Photo of Sarah Yamashita, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2021 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Sarah Yamashita
Economics
Photo of Naomi Kallmeyer, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2021 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
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

Photo of Skyler Thornton, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2019 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Skyler Thornton
Economics
Photo of Amanda Snell, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2019 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Amanda Snell
Economics

2019 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Calvin Grover, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2019 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Calvin Grover
Agribusiness
Photo of Ilya Krutko, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2019 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Iliya Krutko
Financial Economics
Photo of Mike Walburger, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2019 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Mik Walburger
Financial Economics

2018 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Zachary Johnson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2018 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Zachary Johnson
Agribusiness
Photo of Andrew Benson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2018 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Andrew Benson
Financial Economics

2018 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Travis Pointer, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2018 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Travis Pointer
Financial Economics
Photo of Chandler Rounds, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agriculture Economics for 2018 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Chandler Rounds
Agricultural Economics
Photo of Lee Shurtleff, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2018 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Lee Shurtleff
Agribusiness
Photo of Charles Wilkosz, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2018 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Charles Wilkosz
Financial Economics

2017 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Tanner Fonnesbeck, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2017 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Tanner Fonnesbeck
Agribusiness
Photo of Alec Nelson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2017 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Alec Nelson
Agribusiness

2017 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Jaron Crapo, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2017 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jaron Crapo
Financial Economics
Photo of Sarah Nielsen, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2017 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Sarah Nielsen
Economics
Photo of Jesse Merkley, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2017 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jesse Merkley
Economics

2017 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Trevor Schmidt, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2017 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Trevor Schmidt
Agribusiness
Photo of Blaine Frogget, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2017 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Blaine Frogget
Economics

2016 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Harman, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2016 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Zachary Harman
Agribusiness
Photo of Elliot Mateski, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2016 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Elliot Mateski
Economics
Photo of Jaden Talbot, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2016 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jaden Talbot
Financial Economics

2016 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Bryan Overy, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2016 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Bryan Overy
Agribusiness
Photo of Corey Eaton, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2016 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Corey Eaton
Financial Economics
Photo of Ryan Quackenbush, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2016 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Ryan Quackenbush
Financial Economics

2015 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Josh Tibbitts, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2015 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Josh Tibbitts
Economics
Photo of Trey Bluemel, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2015 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Trey Bluemel
Financial Economics
Photo of Tyson Nicoll, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2015 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Tyson Nicoll
Agribusiness

2015 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Grayson Bowman, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2015 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Grayson Bowman
Economics
Photo of Moriah Horner, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2015 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Moriah Horner
Economics
Photo of Kaleb Nygaard, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2015 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Kaleb Nygaard
Financial Economics
Photo of Amber Waite, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2015 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Amber Waite
Financial Economics

2015 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Nathan Garner, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2015 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Nathan Garner
Agribusiness
Photo of Andrew Gordon, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2015 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Andrew Gordon
Financial Economics
Photo of Kegan O'Connor, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2015 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Kegan O'Connor
Economics
Photo of Avery Robertson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2015 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Avery Robertson
Agribusiness
Photo of Emanuel Rodriguez, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2015 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Emanuel Rodgriquez
Financial Economics

2014 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Jessica Bahr, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2014 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jessica Bahr
Agribusiness
Photo of Todd Godfrey, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2014 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Todd Godfrey
Economics
Photo of Mitch Murphy, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2014 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Mitch Murphy
Financial Economics

2014 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Jennifer Smith, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2014 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jennifer Smith
Agribusiness
Photo of Devin Thornton, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2014 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Devin Thornton
Agribusiness
Photo of Kevin Poaletti, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2014 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Kevin Poaletti
Economics
Photo of Jonathan Weber, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2014 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Daniel Price
Economics
Photo of Daniel Price, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2014 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Jonathan Weber
Financial Economics

2013 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Derek Jentzch, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2013 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Darek Jentzch
Agribusiness
Photo of Scott Bouwhuis, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Scott Bouwhuis
Financial Economics
Photo of Sebastian Schaat, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2013 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Sebastian Schaat
Economics
Photo of Beth Nielsen, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Beth Nielsen
Financial Economics

2013 Spring Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Ryan Burkhardt, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2013 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Ryan Burkhardt
Economics
Photo of Justin Baker, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Justin Baker
Financial Economics
Photo of Gavin Rydalch, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Spring Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Garin Rydalch
Financial Economics

2013 Winter Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Kelsey Wilson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2013 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Kelsey Wilson
Agribusiness
Photo of Hyrum Anderson, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Hyrum Anderson
Financial Economics
Photo of Brent Thornton, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2013 Winter Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Brent Thornton
Financial Economics

2012 Fall Semester Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Awardees

Photo of Ben Turnbow, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Agribusiness for 2012 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Ben Turnbow
Agribusiness
Photo of Erin Shiffler, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Economics for 2012 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Erin Shiffler
Economics
Photo of Aaron Matthews, winner of the Ezra Taft Benson Excellence Award in Financial Economics for 2012 Fall Semester at BYU-Idaho.
Aaron Matthews
Financial Economics