Shivonne Marshall experiences agriculture hands-on at summer internship

Alcorn State University senior, Shivonne Marshall, is laying the foundation to her career in agriculture with her summer internship.

Shivonne is spending her summer as an intern at Tyson Food Company in Center, Texas. The internship started Monday, June 6 and will continue until Thursday, August 11. Over the course of her internship, Shivonne will be assigned a specific area in the company to work in every week. She will than have to report to the company’s Human Resources department to explain the skills she picks up.

This is the first internship for the Detroit, Michigan native. She said that initially, she was very skittish, but after getting to know her co-workers and experiencing the hands-on work, she now feels at home.

“After a few days of getting acclimated, it feels like I have been working at Tyson for a few years,” said Shivonne. “Being able to work with a diverse group of people is amazing. I have networked with some very important people and even made some new friends. It’s truly a blessing to be able to have this opportunity.”

Being in the small town of Center, Texas reminds Shivonne of Alcorn, which is why adjusting to the small, friendly environment has been an easy transition for her.

“The town reminds me of Alcorn in a way. It is very small and homey. The people here are very kind and welcoming. I was even able to find a nice church to attend. I picked Center because it was somewhere I have never been. I couldn’t have picked a better place to do my internship.”

Shivonne enjoys utilizing the skills she’s learned in Alcorn’s School of Agriculture, Research, Extension and Applied Sciences. She also gave credit to her recruiter, Amber Dodd, for making her stay in Center an enjoyable one.

“I like being able to actually see how the plant is ran. I am able to take what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in the field. My recruiter takes the time to make sure I have a clear understanding of everything I need to know. Outside of work, she checks on me and ensures I have everything I need in order to have a great experience here in Center.”

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