April 16, 2019
Diversity Programs Office Update
Submitted by College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office
On April 3-6, Kansas State University College of Agriculture served as a co-host for the 34th annual Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences, or MANRRS, National Conference in Overland Park. There were a total of 1200 participants and 85+ companies who presented.
The K-State delegation included 16 students, along with advisor Dr. Zelia Wiley, assistant dean and director of the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office, and co-advisor Lonnie Hobbs Jr. Tiffany Carter, graduate student in agronomy, and Hobbs represented K-State on the national level, serving as national graduate student president and Region IV graduate vice president respectively.
The K-State delegation included:
• Jordan Bailey, Animal Science and Industry
• Raymond Thomas, Agricultural Economics
• Eric Valenzuela, Animal Science and Industry
• Hector Rojas, Animal Science and Industry
• James Lin, Agronomy
• Michael Hook, Agricultural Economics
• Akayla Calhoun, Animal Science and Industry
• Jasmin Choate, Animal Science and Industry
• Makinsey McIntosh, Animal Science and Industry
• Sarah Weekes, Animal Science and Industry
• Daisy Farr, Agricultural Communications
• Mckenzie Stevens, Animal Science and Industry
• Johari Snell, Animal Science and Industry
• Marisa Avila, Animal Science and Industry
• Tiffany Carter, Agronomy
• Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., Agricultural Economics
• Dr. Zelia Wiley, Assistant Dean and Director for Diversity
The students participated in various workshop sessions, the career fair and student competitions. The students were very successful in their competitions as they placed in the top three in all competitions which they competed in. See below for the student winners.
Contest Winners:
• Raymond Thomas: 1st in Graduate Research Poster Contest
• James Lin: 1st in Graduate Business Pitch Contest
• Jasmin Choate: 3rd in Elevator Speech Contest
• Jordan Bailey: 2nd in Lincoln Douglas Debate
• K-State Quiz bowl Team: 3rd in Quiz bowl Competition
Other K-State College of Agriculture administrators participated in the conference during the career fair and various sessions during the four day period. Dr. Ernie Minton, interim dean of the college, served as a panelist during the Diversity Summit. Dr. Shannon Washburn, assistant dean of academic programs, participated in the career fair. Wiley was also heavily involved in the conference as she led various sessions and passed her crown as the MANRRS Legend, 2017-2019, to the 2019-2021 recipient, Mr. Carl Butler.
On April 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 40 students from the MANRRS National Conference visited the K-State Manhattan campus to tour both the College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine. Various K-State College of Agriculture administrators, ambassadors and K-State MANRRS members helped to ensure the students had a fun and informational time on campus. Thank you to Dr. Callie Rost, assistant dean for admissions, and the College of Vet Med staff for serving as co-host for the tours.
Overall, we were proud to serve as a 2019 co-host for the conference. As the MANRRS motto states, it is our duty to “change the face of agriculture by linking hands around the world.” It is hoped through our efforts, this was accomplished.
Please continue to look for more diversity news and events as we continue to advertise. We appreciate your support. For more information about upcoming events or to collaborate with the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office, call 785-532-5793, or contact Hobbs at lhobbs@k-state.edu; or Wiley at zwiley@k-state.edu.