The Summit allowed pre-college students and parents across CAFS Youth Development Summer Program areas to showcase what they learned about career opportunities related to STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics). The theme for this year’s summit was “Need Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Technology? There’s an AG for that!”
“Most students come to the program with a specific major or
career path in mind and a general concept of what agriculture and food sciences
is all about, ” said Program Director Gilda Phills. “However, in most cases,
their career paths have not been well thought out, and they have a
misconception of these disciplines because of little or no exposure to the
various career options in their specific areas of interest.”
The CAFS Youth Development Summer Institute Programs provide students with exposure and experiential learning across the various academic disciplines that are offered throughout FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. During the Youth Summit, student participants are given an opportunity to tell what they have learned through their camp participation.
“In this highly technological age we live in, many students
do not know there is much more to agriculture and food sciences than just
farming and cooking. These academic disciplines are the foundation of the basic
sciences and technology that combine to feed, clothe and shelter over six
billion people around the world daily,” said Bobby Phills, project director for
the CAFS Youth Development Summer Institute, which is funded by a federal
grant.
The Summer Institute Program is a significant part of the university’s recruitment efforts as the majority of participants continue on to enroll in studies at FAMU CAFS.
“It is gratifying to hear them talk about how their
knowledge has changed and how they now want to pursue a career in one or more
of the alternative agriculture and food science areas they learned about in the
program,” said Gilda Phills.
Several speakers participated in the summit to share words
of wisdom. While encouraging the students, Robert Taylor, CAFS dean and
director of land-grant programs, referenced FAMU alumnus John W. Thompson, who
went from a student with ambition to now chairman of Microsoft.
“The selection of a FAMU graduate as chairman of Microsoft,
one of the world’s most accomplished software companies, is a testament to the
preparation students receive at FAMU,” said Taylor. “When a FAMU graduate is
chosen to lead a company formerly led by Bill Gates, that tells you what a
degree from FAMU can do for you.”
Participants also heard from Johana Briscoe, emergency
program manager for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS), about opportunities for employment in federal government in the field
of agriculture and related sciences. Briscoe explained that she looks forward
to FAMU graduates one day doing what she does.
USDA APHIS is an avid supporter of FAMU and actively
supports the AG Discovery summer program as well as ongoing research
partnerships, USDA 1890 National Scholar Program sponsorship and student
internships.