The College of Agriculture and Human Sciences organized the First Land Grant Week, April 16-19 2018. This event was an effort of the college leadership to appreciate and encourage excellence of our students, alumni, faculty, research scientists, extension personnel, and supporting staff. Sixty two undergraduate and graduate students from five colleges gave oral and poster presentations. Sixty five student workers were recognized for their efforts. Awards for outstanding student presenters, researcher, teacher, extension personnel, and staff members were awarded during the banquet.
Kick off and Panel Discussion
The kick-off of Land Grant Week and panel discussion was organized at CEP Auditorium on April 16, 2018. The panel discussion was organized to reflect the importance of Land Grant Programs. At the beginning of the program, Dr. Ali Fares, Interim Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs, gave a brief introduction of the Land Grant and Morell Act I & II. Dr. Addo Kwaku moderated the panel discussion. Panelists, Dr. Alfred Parks discussed on the achievement of the CAHS-PVAMU Land Grant’ Teaching and Research, , LaRachelle Smith discussed on opportunities for students, Horace Hodge discussed on partnership opportunities between Land Grant Programs and industries.
Land Grant Research Symposium
College of Agriculture and Human Sciences organized Land Grant Research Symposium on April 18, 2018, as a part of Land Grant Week Celebration. Sixty-two abstracts were collected for the symposium from five colleges: College of Agriculture and Human Sciences (28), College of Engineering (10), College of Education (6), College of Arts and Sciences (16), and College of Nursing (2). Forty-six undergraduate and seven graduate students presented posters, and nine graduate students presented oral presentation. Students interacted with judges and other audiences during oral and poster presentations. Brief feedback from 36 students showed 78% of participants were somewhat to very satisfied with this symposium (Fig. 1). Seventy-seven percent of students increased their understanding of the current research topics and presentation capability from the symposium (Fig. 2). More than 80% of students rated good to excellent for the relevance of symposium, abstract submission process, panel discussion, and quality of presentations (Fig. 3). The good to excellent varies from 63% to 74% for organizational arrangements for and during the event, the opportunity to network, and date of the symposium.
Figures (1), (2) and (3)
Land Grant Banquet
The banquet was organized on April 18, 2018, to honor the outstanding alumni, outstanding faculty, outstanding researcher, outstanding extension personnel, outstanding staff, the students winners in the research symposium, and appreciation of student workers in the CAHS. Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Sponsored Programs highlighted the importance of land grant programs during his greetings. Keynote Speaker, Frank Jackson after giving a brief overview of the PVAMU and its land grant programs, he highlighted the critical role the land grant programs have been playing and should continue to play to live up to their intended purposes in addressing the needs of the limited resources Texans in all aspects of their lives.
The awards in different categories were presented during the banquet:
- Outstanding Alumni: E.W. Wesley
- Outstanding Faculty: Alfred Parks
- Outstanding Researcher: Ripendra Awal
- Outstanding Extension Agent Award: Nathan Tucker
- Program Specialist Award: Joice Jeffries
- Extension Teamwork Award: Krystal Wilcox, Vida Harrison, Alfredo Alberto and Irma Ortiz.
- Extension Social Media Award: John Ferguson
- Outstanding Staff: Adela Jackson
- Student Researchers Awards: Winners of Land Grant Research Symposium
- Student Worker Appreciation Awards: All student workers at CAHS
Alumni Day
Fifty two agriculture students, faculty, and alumni visited an alum’s ranch where students participated in hands on applications of principles in animal husbandry, natural resource management, forest management, soil health and pasture management in New Waverly, Texas.
Research and Extension Display
Smart Agriculture, Genomics, and Food and Water Security Research: This showcase demonstrated Smart Agriculture equipment such as drones and remote, real-time sensors for water, soil, and air. The demonstration also included the state-of-the-art techniques used to monitor soil carbon dioxide emission and present real-time soil-water solutions and a demonstration using the latest genomics-sequencing technology to identify harmful and beneficial food and non-food bacteria. A sampling of different collard green-based snacks and dishes were shared along with their recipes and nutritional values. Different extension and research activities were also highlighted during the showcase.
Some of the pictures captured during the Kick off and Panel discussion, Land Grant Research Symposium and Banquet are available here.
Ripendra Awal, Ph.D.
Research Scientist, Natural Resources and Environmental Systems Research
(936) 261-5092
riawal@pvamu.edu
Ali Fares, Ph.D.
Interim Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs
(936) 261-5019
alfares@pvamu.edu