Two Alcorn students receive scholarships to attend 2019 Women in Ag Conference
Alcorn students Rodricka Allen and Kalysia Johnson were recently awarded scholarships to attend the 2019 Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sponsored by Cargill, Inc. This all-expense paid conference was held Sept. 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis.
The summit, now in its eighth year, has established a distinguished agribusiness community where the sharing of business knowledge and industry innovations is at the forefront of helping women excel in the field. Throughout the conference, participants will benefit from presentations on the latest trends, viewpoints, and advances in agriculture, and enjoy supreme networking opportunities with influential executives, along with professional development opportunities.
Allen, a first year master’s student from Fayette, Mississippi, earned her bachelor’s in agriculture economics from Alcorn in 2018. At Alcorn she has been involved in numerous organizations including Future Farmers of America (FFA), Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (M.A.N.R.R.S), Student Ambassadors and the Agriculture Business and Economics Club (ABEC).
“I was surprised to get selected because I never really get picked for anything,” said Allen.
She advises students to get out of their comfort zones and see what the world has to offer.
“You will never know what opportunities are available to you if you don’t get out there and look for them,” she said.
Johnson is a senior Agribusiness Management major from Heidelberg, Mississippi. She is a member of FFA and the Gamma Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Johnson is committed to networking and making agriculture businesses operate more efficiently and effectively on a larger scale in hopes of educating people about the business aspect of the field.
“I didn’t expect to get chosen, but I am so happy to have been selected,” said Johnson. “This is truly a blessing.”
Both students give credit to Dr. Wandra Arrington, assistant professor of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, for informing them about the opportunity. They also acknowledged Tedrick Hargrave, Dr. Wesley Whitaker, Michael Trusclair, and their family and friends for moral support. In the future, both students hope to work for the USDA or another private sector, all while becoming better versions of themselves.
Scholarships to the WIA Summit are offered by sponsors to cover the cost of registration and overnight accommodations for female students wishing to attend. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students attending an accredited college or university.
For more information, visit www.womeninag.com.
