Classes start tomorrow and it will be good to once again have students around to fill the hallways with the hustle and bustle of student life. It's exciting to see the students well rested from their holiday break and ready for another great semester. Just because it's the beginning of the semester doesn't mean that it's slow around here. Students are already talking about classes they are taking, conferences and trips they are going to, DanceBlue (UK's 24-hour student ran dance marathon), and maybe even a possible NCAA Championship from both our men and women's basketball teams!
We've been busy in the College of Agriculture as well. Our annual Winter Event was over the weekend. Our Ag & HES Alumni Association did a great job of providing an event for our alumni and friends to gather and celebrate the many good programs and accomplishments of the College and other fellow alumni. President Capilouto stopped by to bring greetings and also took time to meet with some of our admitted students for Fall 2012 who were at the event.
Speaking of these prospective/ admitted students, we were proud to host 41 students and their families over the course of the weekend here at UKAg. We invited admitted students back in December and these families came to campus for what we hope was a good and informative time. I know we had a great time with them. These students were from Kentucky, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee and all of them brought a passion for their intended major and for learning more about UK.
The students met with faculty members representing our undergraduate programs, learned about scholarships (the deadline is January 15th for College of Agriculture freshman scholarships), financial aid, housing, our College's Turner Leadership Academy, the process behind advising conferences and about our Agriculture Residential College. Our student ambassadors took them on a tour and then they came back to a portion of the program we call, "The First Lecture Series." A few of our always excellent faculty members presented snippets of their research and work to the students to give them a preview about topics and experiences they might encounter while being a student at UK. Dr. Mark Williams discussed sustainability and our sustainable agriculture program. Dr. David Williams talked about green energy and the impact that a few projects UK is working on could be in the long run for bioenergy. Finally, Dr. Lori Garkovich talked about building community and what that means across the spectrum.
Our campus guests got to eat a great dinner with our Ag & HES Alumni Association board and some of our administrators. This is always a great networking opportunity for the students and the alumni. I hope everyone enjoyed the Kentucky bourbon bread pudding as much as I did.
 |
| The Parent Session at Winter Event |
Aside from the Winter Event meal and the Wildcat win in the basketball game, my favorite part of the program is what happens on the morning of day two of our admitted student program. We have Parent/Student sessions and we separate the two groups from one another. The first hour I spent with the parents while our student ambassadors were with the students- and then the ambassadors and I switch. Why do I like this part so much? It's great to hear the questions that the two groups ask without one another. The don't have to worry about embarrassing their child with questions about safety or classes, and the students don't have to worry about wanting to learn more about social life and how to balance newfound freedom.
This has always been one of my favorite events to host in the College. I like how these students come together to learn more about UK and leave with a greater sense of what it means to be a Wildcat from all levels: a student, a faculty or staff member and an alumni of the Big Blue Nation. I've seen roommates, boyfriends/girlfriends, and great UK connections form from this program. If you think about it, it's pretty telling of what your experience here at UK in the College of Agriculture will be. A great education in a great environment with great people.
And that's a great way to start the new year. I can't imAGine a better way.
Jason Headrick, '02
Director of Student Relations
Special Thanks to Kelli Long for her blog header design!
I never had the chance to attend Winter Event as a high school student, but as an Ag Ambassador I have attended several. Each year I am impressed by not only the students, but the faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture and their dedication to recruiting these outstanding students. I encourage every student considering the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture to ask us questions and to come for a campus visit! GO CATS!!!
ReplyDeleteHannah Shear
College of Agriculture Ambassador
Senior Animal Science & Agriculture Economics