Lifetime Achievement Award: Shawn Kaeppler This award, recognizing distinguished long-term service to the plant breeding discipline through research, teaching, out- reach, and leadership, was given to Shawn Kaeppler, a professor of agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kaeppler received his bachelor’s degree in genetics at the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1987, and his PhD in plant breeding and genetics at the University of Minnesota under the mentorship of Ronald Phillips. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1995 working in the areas of maize genetics and breeding and crop functional genomics. From a childhood that included judging dairy cattle, Kaeppler has been fascinated by genetics and breeding. An overall passion has been understanding how genetic variation results in altered phenotypes, and how that knowledge can be harnessed to make better crops. His collaborative team has made significant discoveries in crop epigenetics, somaclonal variation, and crop genome composition including extensive presence-absence vari- ation. He has made important discoveries in maize seed size and composition, and maize abiotic stress tolerance. As outcomes of his research goals, he develops maize lines with utility to seed producers in the northern maturity zones. Plant Breeding Impact Award: Donald Bockelman This award recognizes an individual in the public or private sector who has made significant advancements in the field of plant breeding, specifically in the area of applied variety and/or technology devel- opment. The 2018 recipient is Donald Bockelman, a corn breeder who retired from Monsanto in July 2018 after 37 years of highly impactful plant breeding activities. He began his career in Farmer City, Illinois with O’s Gold in August 1980, upon the completion of a graduate degree in plant pathology, working on Goss’ wilt. After the 1984 Upjohn Purchase of O’s Gold and integration with Asgrow, he moved to Monmouth in 1987 where he remained until his retirement breeding corn with a focus on the central Corn Belt. Inbreds developed by Bockelman represented step changes in Monsanto’s product performance for North America and have had significant relevance outside North America as part of the global germplasm exchange. Equally important to his commercial success are his contributions to promote breeding for diversity efforts around the world and mentoring many new corn breed- ers and research team members. People from every world region have enjoyed spending time with him in the field and have benefited from his passion for corn breeding, knowledge of global germplasm, and perspective on diversity breeding. Along his career, Bockelman has received multiple Monsanto recognitions including the Above and Beyond Award for the germplasm team effort, Commercial Impact Award, multiple Best New Inbred Code Awards and the Career Award for outstanding lifetime achievements. Early Career Scientist Award: Jeffrey Endelman This award recognizes a scientist in early stages of their plant breeding career who exhibits the ability to establish strong research foundations, to interact with multi-disci- plinary teams, and to participate in relevant professional societies. The 2018 recipient is Jeff Endelman, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and leader of the potato breeding program. Endelman has been active in training students and postdocs at UW-Madison. He teaches an undergradu- ate course on genetically modified crops and graduate courses on genetic mapping, polyploid genetics, and selection theory. At its 2018 annual meeting in Ontario, the National Association of Plant Breeders awarded a trio of breeders who’ve made their mark. THREEHONOUREDFORPLANT BREEDINGEXCELLENCE Shawn Kaeppler Jeffrey Endelman Donald Bockelman ON LOCATION: NAPB 2018 • GUELPH, ON 20 GERMINATION.CA NOVEMBER 2018