Leftovers and leaps of faith: CAES seniors ‘pass the torch’ during 2024 Student Awards

Outgoing seniors in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences offered advice on life’s leftovers and leaps of faith to the undergraduate class in this year’s CAES Student Awards.

The 2024 ceremony, held at the New Academic Building on April 19, recognizes the graduating class and their achievements over the course of the year. A highlighted feature of the event is the Pass the Torch speech, in which students selected from each of the four academic departments offer a speech of encouragement to the classes below them.

“This is one of my favorite parts of the program and of the year,” said CAES associate dean of academics Antoine Alston, Ph.D. “This allows one senior from each program to provide some reflection and some words of wisdom for the future as they matriculate out into the real world.”

In his speech, agricultural education major Cy’heim McRae spoke to his peers about a sermon he’d heard from his pastor that reflected his N.C. A&T experience.

“He told us, ‘Sometimes, life can give us leftovers,’” said McRae. “’Leftovers can be defined as something less than we started out with, but when life has brought us to something leftover, we have to trust that the Lord will bring us through whatever we’re experiencing; stop focusing on what you don’t have and thank God for what you have left.’

There have been some people, some things, that I didn’t understand. Some experiences that I didn’t understand. Some lessons I didn’t know the purpose of, but as I look back and think about them all, but I can look back and say I’m grateful for them and the family I’ve gained through the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.”

Food science major Taylor Peele honored her mentor, assistant professor Roberta Claro da Silva, Ph.D., for giving her the “leap of faith” to work alongside her as a lab assistant.

“That’s been my motto my entire collegiate career: don’t tell yourself ‘no’ before they can,” said Peele. “It’s been truly instrumental because I always counted myself out of opportunities before applying, thinking about the competition or a lot of other factors. You have to keep going and persevering through all of those things.”

Jordan Washington, biological engineering major and Undergraduate Research Scholar, said his objective after graduating was to “give back” to the Aggies behind him and open more opportunities as a frequent visitor.

“After my senior year, I’ll be interning with Chevron as an environmental specialist in their Houston location, but I’ll continue to coach them in energy and innovation and continue to come back to career fairs to make sure I’m looking for more students like me,” said Washington. “For the graduating classes in 2026 and 2027, I’ve had a chance to talk to some of you guys, talk to your parents, recommend scholarships, internships, and other areas where I think you fit perfectly if you take that leap of faith and commit to being here.”

Animal veterinary science student and MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) president Janaia Madden said the incoming class needed to trust in themselves and “the process” to achieve success in and out of their college career.

“Know the power of being you and knowing what you seek and attain, because ‘being you’ is ‘beautiful’,” said Madden. “Embrace talents that aren’t necessarily career-related, but are interests that are important to your overall being. Don’t be afraid to pursue those desires and moments of happiness; you are not alone in this journey, and remember to lean on the support that A&T provides.”

In additional remarks, Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T administrator M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., told the outgoing seniors and undergraduates that they were the “solutions” to the projected 2050 food production and population increase.

“You should feel within yourself that you can be a part of the solution to these issues,” said McKinnie. “Stay committed to your scholarships. Stay committed to your progression. When you’re going through undergraduate and graduate studies, you want to go through the back door and see as many opportunities and directions as possible.”