Members of the 2026 award-winning Rutgers Animal Welfare Judging Team pose in front of Bartlett Hall, the academic home of the Department of Animal Sciences, on the George H. Cook campus.
Students in the Department of Animal Sciences at Rutgers University delivered an exceptional performance at the Spring 2026 American Veterinary Medical Association Virtual Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest (AWJAC), continuing the program’s rapid rise on the national stage.
Held April 25–26, the fourth annual competition brought together students from universities across North America and Europe to evaluate animal welfare in a range of real-world settings. Participants were challenged to assess welfare conditions using scientific evidence, ethical reasoning, and effective public communication skills.
This spring also marked a milestone for the Rutgers Animal Welfare Judging Team, which welcomed 10 new members — the largest team in the program’s history. The expanded roster translated into impressive results across both undergraduate divisions.
In the Undergraduate Junior Division, Daisy Pursell captured 1st Place and earned the highest overall score in the entire competition, while Aspen Wu secured a 4th Place finish. Rutgers students also dominated the Undergraduate Senior Division, where Stephanie Tomshaw claimed 1st Place, followed by Max Wu in 2nd and Jacob Bazer in 3rd. Aditri Singh placed 5th overall, while Jahla Brown earned an 8th Place finish. Tyler Fanslow and Lyric Ames also contributed strong performances that reflected the team’s depth, preparation, and collaborative approach.
This year’s contest featured 140 competitors representing 23 universities. The virtual competition focused on free-range broiler chickens and show rabbits, requiring students to analyze complex welfare scenarios and communicate recommendations grounded in animal welfare science.
Nicholas Bello, professor and chair of the Department of Animal Sciences, praised both the team’s accomplishments and the rapid growth of the program.
“This is really amazing,” said Bello. “In just a few years, this team has become super competitive and has beaten out some of the big-time schools in judging that have been competing since 2014. To the RU Animal Welfare Judging Team, thank you so much for representing Rutgers, SEBS, and Animal Sciences. We are proud. Thank you to Dr. Taylor Ross for her leadership and winning coaching.”
Bello also recognized assistant coach and graduating Animal Sciences senior Jacob Bazer, along with senior team member Aditri Singh, for organizing preparation sessions and mentoring fellow competitors throughout the semester.
With another successful season completed, the team is already preparing for the next challenge. The Fall 2026 AWJAC, hosted by Texas A&M University this November, will feature an eclectic range of species — including bearded dragons, bucking bulls, café cats, and raptors — providing students with another opportunity to apply welfare science principles across diverse animal management systems.
The continued success of the Rutgers Animal Welfare Judging Team reflects the strength of experiential learning opportunities within the Department of Animal Sciences and the growing reputation of Rutgers students in the field of animal welfare science.
