Sparsholt College is proud to celebrate the success of alumna Emilia O’Connell, who was Highly Commended in the Student Project Award category at the 2026 Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) Awards.
Emilia was recognised for her project exploring the economic, environmental and social contrasts between a small family-run dairy farm and a commercial dairy farm. Her work demonstrated thoughtful research and a clear understanding of the challenges shaping the future of modern dairy farming.
The IAgrE Awards Presentation Day took place at the Royal Agricultural University, bringing together industry professionals, educators and students to celebrate excellence across the land-based engineering sector.
Reflecting on the experience, Emilia shared how thrilled she was to attend and receive her award, stating that the day was made even more special as her parents were there to watch her being recognised.
The IAgrE Student Project Award aims to “encourage and recognise innovation and excellence by students of subjects related to the application of engineering and technology to the land based sector.” – (IAgrE)
Emilia’s achievement is a fantastic example of the high-quality research and industry insight developed at Sparsholt College, preparing students to make a meaningful impact in agriculture and the wider land-based sector.
Inspired to make your mark on the future of farming? Discover how learning beyond the classroom at Sparsholt can help you get there: Agriculture Courses at Sparsholt College