Fourteen undergraduate students from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University have been selected for the second cohort of the Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement (MILE) Program.

MILE is three-semester leadership and professional development program that exposes students to the key issues affecting local, state, and national agriculture while expanding their personal and professional skills.

William Brown, CASNR dean, said the MILE Program is meeting industry demands by developing future employees who have cutting edge disciplinary knowledge and communications skills.

"MILE students are well-rounded, mature individuals that will have an immediate impact in the marketplace and ultimately become leaders in the industries we serve," Brown said.

MILE cohort members go through an extensive application and interview process, and are selected by the MILE advisory committee, which is comprised of agricultural industry representatives and CASNR faculty and staff.

During the program, MILE participants enroll in three academic courses focused on the personal, service and community aspects of leadership and are required to complete a professional internship. The cohort will also participate in professional development workshops and agriculture tours across the state and will travel to Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C., to meet with industry and government representatives. Each student will receive a leadership certificate upon graduation from the program.

"Our goal is to create a pipeline of knowledgeable and highly qualified students who can go into industry with the training and experiences necessary to tackle the big issues facing agriculture and our rural communities," said MILE Program Director, Lindsay Kennedy.

While the program seeks to impact participant's career opportunities, Kennedy said the long-term goals of MILE are much broader.

"My hope is that one day in the not so distant future our MILE Program alumni will not just be a network of advocates for agriculture, but they'll also be key industry decision makers, civic leaders, school board members, policy makers, and people out there making a positive impact on their communities," Kennedy said.

The following students represent the second MILE cohort:

• Taylin Antonick, AAEC, Henderson, Texas
• Samantha Barnett, ACOM, Florence, Texas
• Tyler Brimager, NRM, New Braunfels, Texas
• Lindsay Dube, ACOM/CMI, Thrall, Texas
• Mason Ewing, AAEC, Van Alstyne, Texas
• Macey Gerhart, ANSC, Winters, Texas
• Steven Iida, NRM, Spring, Texas
• Lacy Jackson, ACOM, Seminole, Texas
• Sydney Lundberg, AAEC/ACOM, Albuquerque, NM
• Martina Martin, AGED, Franklin, Texas
• Carson Read, ANSC, Decatur, Texas
• Riley Reep, ACOM, Ropesville, Texas
• Kullen Sorrels, ANSC, Dalhart, Texas
• Alondra Torres, AAEC, Sanger, Texas

CONTACT: Lindsay Kennedy, Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-8240 or lindsay.kennedy@ttu.edu

0227NM20 / PHOTO: (Back row, L to R) Mason Ewing, Carson Read, Riley Reep, Martina Martin, Lindsay Kennedy (MILE Program Director), McKenna Johnson (MILE graduate assistant), Samantha Barnett, Steven Iida, Alondra Torres, Kullen Sorrels, and Tyler Brimager. (Front Row, L to R) Taylin Antonick, Macey Gerhart, Sydney Lundberg, Lindsay Dube, and Lacy Jackson.

Editor's Note: For more information about the CASNR MILE Program, click here