Nearly 80 students from across the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences reflected on – and were recognized for – their summer internships, research projects and studies abroad  during the 11th annual Student Showcase of Excellence, held Sept. 7 at the University Farm Pavilion.

The students made presentations with posters and explained their projects to guests.

“We just wanted to say what and honor and privilege it is to have you here today,” said CAES associate dean Antoine Alston, Ph.D., during the ceremony’s opening remarks. “We are very proud to have you here and we’re glad the pandemic has subsided some so can be able to study abroad and do some of these things again. This is really one of the centerpieces of the College of Ag.”

During poster presentations, Alaina Brock, a junior in the Food and Nutritional Sciences program, talked about her internship with Chicago-based food company Mondelez International.

“I was a research and development intern,” said Brock. “Basically, I worked on a global gum innovation project, which means that I made different hypotheses for variables to try with the gum innovative flavors. And then, we made samples, got different consumers to try them, and then received their feedback.”

In a study abroad in New Mexico, Xavier Avery, an environmental studies major, collected data on birds and other animals with the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“The main part was working with birds,” said Avery. “We did nest box checking and bird banding. We’d wake up early in the morning and set up nets, so the birds would fly into them while it was still dark, and we’d band them and collect data about their health.”

Avery also said part of his study abroad included pollinator testing with bees, chemical testing, and small animal trapping.

Reagan Cooper, an elementary education major, interned for Freedom School, a literacy-based summer enrichment program, in Greensboro under the SECU Public Fellows Internship.

“I was basically a STEM coordinator, but I got to work with underprivileged kids,” said Cooper. “We did science experiments every day. We did healthy activities; they got kind of a college experience too because they got to go to a college campus. We took many trips: we went to the Civil Rights Museum, the Greensboro History Museum, and came here to A&T’s farm. I think they learned so much and valued their experience, and I valued the experience as well.”

According to Cooper, some of the students from Freedom Schools transferred to N.C. A&T’s Aggie Academy, where Cooper currently works.

During the awards and recognition ceremony, Dean Mohamed Ahmedna, Ph.D., spoke highly of the students’ varied summer activities.

“Whether it is ag research or internship or studying abroad, I see excellence all the way and congratulate you for that,” said Ahmedna. “The college is proud of all of you. You and all our students are highly sought by employers because you are prepared and because you are doing things beyond the classroom.”

Speaking to the student body, Miles Lee, a sophomore sustainable land and food systems major and USDA 1890s Scholar, said the showcase highlighted the “broadness of agriculture”, and “the passion that you all have in your desired career fields.”

“I know it’s been a tough summer and we’re still hearing about the pandemic, but you guys pushed through,” said Lee, who interned for the USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service in Las Vegas. “I can say for my own personal experience that having an internship gave me valuable insight into what the career is like once I graduate from college.”

Students who took part in summer activities received individual certificates for their work. Special awards were given to best poster presentations, including:

BEST UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH POSTER

• 3^rd Place: Breyana Robinson, Laboratory Animal Science, Bridge-Up HBCU
• 2^nd Place: Kenene Lee, Environmental Studies, N.C. A&T
• 1^st Place: Karla Branch, Laboratory Animal Science, Kansas State Research and Extension Undergraduate Research Fellowship

BEST GRADUATE RESEARCH POSTER

• 3^rd Place: Rycal Blount, Food and Nutritional Science, Savvy Women Leaders in Animal Science
• 2^nd Place: Philip J. Yeboah, Food and Nutritional Science, N.C. A&T Food Microbiology & Biotechnology
• 1^st Place: Sreenavya Inupala, Animal Science, N.C. A&T Animal Science

BEST STUDY ABROAD POSTER

• 3^rd Place: Lyric Armstrong, Animal Science, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Study Abroad Program
• 2^nd Place: James Bass, Agricultural Education, SKN Foundation and Iglesia Camino Santa Marta
• 1^st Place: Nia McLean, Agricultural Education, The Netherlands

BEST INTERNSHIP POSTER

• 3^rd Place: Amberatta Faulkner, Fashion Merchandising and Design, Hanesbrands Inc.
• 2^nd Place: Kortni Blalock, Agribusiness and Food Industry Management, 1890 USDA FAS Summer Internship
• 1^st Place: Tahirah Jones, Animal Science, USDA – APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)