Two members of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter within Texas Tech's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources were in the spotlight at the organization's 2024 National Conference running from Mar. 20-24 in Chicago.

Blake Mills, a junior agricultural leadership major from Center Point, Texas, placed first in the Oral Research Division II Undergraduate Division (Social Sciences). Mills is currently serving a spring internship with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock & Poultry Program in Washington, D.C.

Last spring he graduated from Davis College's Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement Program (third cohort), a three-semester leadership certificate program that seeks to develop participants' personal and professional skills through high-impact learning experiences. Mills was also a member of the 2023 Civic Leadership Academy. His undergraduate research experience in the Davis College allowed him to have research to present on the national level.

Meantime, Alexa Salinas, a graduate agricultural education and leadership major from Mission, Texas, placed third in the Research Poster Division II Graduate Division (Social Sciences). Salinas' research with her advisor, Jason Headrick, received the 2023 Western Region Outstanding Innovation in Research & 2023 Western Region Outstanding Research Impact from the American Association for Agricultural Education.

“These Davis College students have represented TTU so well at the MANRRS Career Fair with the many agricultural companies and the USDA,” said Jason Headrick, a MANRRS co-advisor and an assistant professor of leadership and community development from Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural Education & Communications.

"The impact these students will have in the ag and natural resources sector in the future is evident in the way they are included and supported by the broader ag sector," he said.

Other Davis College MANRRS chapter members attending the conference included:

• Celeste Aranda, a senior dual ag eco/business major from Coupland, Texas
• Shakir Booker, a senior natural resources management major from Mesquite, Texas
• Thomas Cantu, a junior chemistry major from Lubbock, Texas
• Ines Cencieros, a junior animal science from El Paso, Texas
• Michael Demby, a senior biology major from Cedar Hill, Texas
• Marexy Guerra, a junior ag education from Alton, Texas
• Salvador Velasquez, a sophomore animal science major from Pittsburg, Texas
• Marianna Zamora, a senior natural resources management major from Dallas, Texas
• Salvador Velasquez, a sophomore animal science major from Pittsburg, Texas

In addition, Sandra Addo, Program Manager for Davis College's Graduate Student Recruitment, attended the meeting as a chapter a co-advisor.

The mission of MANRRS is to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. The MANRRS organization began as a vision shared by a group of agriculture students and faculty at Michigan State and Pennsylvania State, according to the MANRRS website. Founded in 1982, the goal was to develop a network between minority agriculture and natural resources students and professionals from academic institutions, government entities, and organizations within the industry.

CONTACT: Sandra Addo, Program Manager for Graduate Student Recruitment, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or sandra.addo@ttu.edu

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