Sixteen MANRRS Members Attend National Expo; Thomas, Dains Named Scholars

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Members of U of A's MANRRS chapter attended the national conference in Atlanta, which included presentations, small group breakout sessions, workshops, a career expo, networking with potential employers and other students, and professional development.

Sixteen students, all in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and members of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences chapter, attended the MANRRS 37th Annual Training Conference & Career Expo, with two earning national scholar awards.

The April event in Atlanta featured presentations by industry leaders, small group breakout sessions, workshops, a career expo, networking with potential employers and students from other universities, and professional development.

Ivan Thomas, an animal science master's degree student, was named a Cargill Scholar, and Madi Dains, an agricultural education, communication and technology, and animal science double-major, was named a Farm Credit VIP Scholar.

The Cargill award is based on academics, extracurricular activities and community service involvement. It's also based on field of study and a 500-1,000 word essay on how it can be applied to advance more efficient, sustainable or robust U.S. agriculture, natural resources and related sciences industries.

Dains was one of 25 students nationally selected for the Farm Credit VIP Scholarship. It's based on academics and an interest in Farm Credit. The VIP track provides students with interactions with Farm Credit leadership and exposes them to information about Farm Credit careers in fields including finance, credit, capital markets, informational technology, marketing and more.

"The weekend was not only fun, but a confidence booster," said Jimena Rodriguez, president of U of A MANNRS and an animal science major. "Being a minority pursuing a degree in agriculture, there are times when I question if I chose the right career path. Attending this conference and seeing the number of scholars and professionals in attendance eased my anxieties. Our students got to hear a special message from Tom Vilsack (U.S. Secretary of Agriculture), Jackie Joyner-Kersee and so many more."

Joining Thomas, Dains and Rodriguez for the conference were animal science major Hellen Vejerano; agricultural economics and agribusiness master's degree students Vera Adabrah, Grace Mahamba and Evelyn Osei; agricultural education, communication and technology Ph.D. students Enoch Ametepey, Kobina Fanyinkah and Henry Akwah, and M.S. student Oluwaytoyin Elizabeth Abati; crop, soil and environmental sciences doctoral student Tatum Simms and M.S. student Solomon Frimpong; entomology M.S. student Amina Twaibu; horticulture M.S. student Theresa Phiri; and environmental dynamics Ph.D. student Terrius Bruce.

Also attending were representatives of Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools, including Executive Director/Superintendent LaShawnDa Noel and Director of Innovation Wendell Scales. Scales is also adviser to the first JR MANRRS chapter in Arkansas, which consists of seventh-12th graders who are mentored by U of A chapter members.

The group was also joined by Deacue Fields, former dean of Bumpers College and now vice president for agriculture for the U of A System.

"We were able to take a group of 16 students to Atlanta for the conference and expo, and they had a great time," said Jacquelyn Wiersma-Mosley, Bumpers College assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and MANRRS club adviser. "They listened to several inspirational speakers, participated in multiple educational seminars, networked and met various leaders and other students, and we had several make presentations. We are very grateful to Tyson Foods, Farm Credit and the UA System Division of Agriculture for supporting MANRRS and allowing this many students to get this experience and exposure through travel scholarships. This is something they will remember for years and will help them grow personally and professionally."

Simms presented in both the oral and poster divisions. Frimpong presented in the oral division, and Ametepey, Fanyinkah and Akwah presented posters.

MANRRS students met with representatives from Tyson Foods earlier this year, and Tyson donated $20,000 to the U of A chapter for professional development and networking opportunities, such as MANRRS 37. The gift was through Tyson's diversity, equity and inclusion fund, which includes as part of its mission statement to "recruit, retain, develop and promote talent that believes that our differences strengthen our ability to innovate, move beyond challenges and execute with excellence with a level of trust that is undeniable." 

"The career expo was my favorite part," Rodriguez said. "I was taken away by the number of companies present. While I did not get to interact with every booth, the few I did connect with were very meaningful. The conversations were intentional and were passionate about the importance of a diverse work environment. Our chapter was fortunate enough to be sponsored by Tyson Foods' DEI team, Farm Credit and the UA Division of Agriculture. I could go on and on about the connections made and how I just left with new insight of approaching grad school or even the work force. I do not know how to put this in better terms, but I just felt support from all over. Companies, advisers, industry professionals are rooting for the success of every scholar present, and the feeling is something that cannot be put into words. The opportunities offered through this organization are endless. There is a space here for everyone, not just agriculture majors."

MANRRS promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences; initiates and participates in activities and programs that ensure ethnic minorities will be involved in and associated with agricultural sciences and related fields; and pledges to work for the inclusion, achievement and advancement of all people in agricultural sciences.

U of A's MANRRS chapter, which is housed in Bumpers College but open to all students across campus, offers academic support, networking opportunities and career development.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.