Name: Alex van Ravenswaay; Major: Agriculture and Applied Economics; Minor: General Business and International Studies; Classification: Senior; Organization: Sigma Alpha; Hometown: Houston, Texas; Month: January 2020

Alex van Ravenswaay, a senior agriculture and applied economics major from Houston, was named Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources' January Matador of the Month.

"Being chosen as the Matador of the Month is a huge honor to me," van Ravenswaay said. "It helps me realize what I have been able to accomplish so far in our college, in Sigma Alpha, and what I have been able to/ participate in through Ag Council."

Van Ravenswaay said she joined Sigma Alpha Rho, a professional agricultural sorority, to help promote women in agriculture and make friends that could last a lifetime.

Being a part of this organization and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, van Ravenswaay said, has allowed her to not only meet new friends but also meet people with different types of agricultural backgrounds.

"I love how the whole college works, and everything that they do for the students," van Ravenswaay said. "I am from the city, so I have only had limited access to agriculture through FFA and rodeos, so being at Tech and being able to meet different people with different types of agricultural backgrounds, is amazing to me."

In addition to the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, van Ravenswaay said the agriculture and applied economics department has allowed her to feel at home while combining two subjects she loves: economics and agriculture.

"When I found agriculture and applied economics, I knew it was what I wanted to major in," she said. "It combined everything that I love and that I am passionate about in life. Once I met the professors in my department, I felt at home. To me, this whole department is a big family."

Lastly, after graduation, van Ravenswaay said she plans on continuing her education by attending graduate school for a master's in agribusiness.

"My dream or goal job is to be an international trader," van Ravenswaay said. "I would like to be able to travel around the world and make connections with native farmers and see different types of agriculture."

CONTACT: Claire Cleveland, Administrator for Scholarships, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or claire.cleveland@ttu.edu

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