Holmes and Gagliardo honored with 2026 ABE alumni awards
The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, honored the exceptional success of two distinguished graduates at the 2026 Alumni Awards ceremony on Oct. 12.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to James A. (Jim) Holmes. In 1968, he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural mechanization, which has evolved into today’s Engineering Technology and Management for Agricultural Systems (ETMAS) program. After graduation, Mr. Holmes joined the U.S. Navy, where he rose from diesel mechanic to supply officer over the course of his 15-year career. He found that his education at Illinois had taught him not only how machinery worked, but how to understand systems, approach problems, and find practical solutions. After leaving active service, Mr. Holmes spent another two decades as a civilian contractor providing logistics support to the Navy. Mr. Holmes and his wife, Ellen, established the James A. and Ellen C. Holmes Family Scholarship Fund to support students with financial need in ABE.
The Young Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Catherine (Cate) Gagliardo, commercial director of strategic accounts at S&P Global. At ABE, she received a degree in technical systems management (TSM) in 2012, now known as ETMAS. The program’s flexibility allowed her to combine engineering and applied sciences with business and economics to prepare for a career at the intersection of renewable fuels and commodity trading. After graduation, Cate joined Gavilon, a commodity trading company whose portfolio spanned feed ingredients, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, and refined petroleum products. When Gavilon's energy business was sold to NGL Energy Partners, Cate managed wholesale gasoline and diesel supply throughout Texas. She later joined World Fuel Services, where she built a fuel supply business serving oilfield operations across Texas.
Read more about Cate Gagliardo
ABE department head Ronaldo Maghirang said, “it is an honor to present these awards to two individuals who show the range of careers our programs can lead to. Jim built on his Illinois education to support the U.S. Navy. Cate combined technical knowledge with business skills to build an impressive career in energy supply management. They each represent the best our department has to offer.”
The ABE department presents two alumni awards each year. The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 2008, recognizes alumni who have significant success and distinction in their careers. The Young Alumni Achievement Award, established in 2020, honors alumni age 40 or younger who have shown exceptional professional promise early in their careers. Recipients of both awards are selected for their professional contributions and lasting impact in their fields. Alumni can be nominated through an online nomination form.