Bulldog 100's Erica Palmisano | National Mentor Month | CAES Rural Scholars

Bulldog 100 Honoree: Erica Palmisano

The University of Georgia’s Bulldog 100 list is comprised of businesses owned or operated by UGA alumni, and this year, CAES proudly has four honorees on the list. Among these honorees is FirstPage Marketing, a digital marketing firm co-led by CAES graduate Erica Palmisano (BSA ’04).

Alumni Spotlight: Travis Voyles

CAES alum Travis Voyles has worn many hats: park tour guide, law clerk, legislative fellow, and now secretary of natural and historic resources for the commonwealth of Virginia. Voyles credits his rural upbringing and his experiences at CAES for his success.

Featured in our 2024 Almanac, "Environment of Trust" tells the story of how Virginia’s Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles stewards land in the commonwealth.

Travis is also a 2025 Young Alumni Achievement Award honoree and will be celebrated at the 69th Annual UGA CAES Alumni Association Awards Celebration on March 21 at the Classic Center in Athens, GA.

View all award honorees and register for the event here.

Get Connected

January is National Mentor Month, and what better way to start the year than by signing up to be a mentor!

In a few easy steps, alumni can setup a UGA Mentor Program profile that is searchable by mentees. Mentees will select a mentor, and mentors will then connect with mentees to determine compatability and expectations. Meetings can take place virtually or in-person, and mentors can expect to dedicate 1-2 hours per month for 16 weeks.

Become a Mentor

The CAES Alumni Board of Directors is now accepting applications for positions for the 2025-2028 term. The purpose of the Alumni Board of Directors is to support the mission of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and to foster and maintain close relationships between its students, alumni, and friends.

Applications are due by close of business on March 12. You can fill out the application here, and if you have any questions regarding the process please email Laura Bayne.

Apply here

Giving Impact: CAES Rural Scholars

CAES welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this past fall. From left to right in the above picture, the 2024 CAES Rural Scholars are Ela Grace Ash, Lauren Coley, Amelia Housley and London O'Steen. Read more about the new cohort of Rural Scholars here.

Designed to recruit and retain outstanding students from underrepresented areas of the state, the Rural Scholars Program was launched in 2020 through the vision and financial support of Keith Kelly, a 1980 CAES graduate and founder, president and CEO of Kelly Products; his wife, Pam Kelly; and 1983 CAES alumnus Robert Varnedoe.

The Rural Scholars Program has been a success since its inception, but there remains financial need to ensure continued support for future cohorts.

Support Rural Scholars