The School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences offers you the opportunity to enhance your chances of employment after graduation through their Multicultural Scholars Program.

A&T’s MSP program is open to students pursuing a major in agribusiness, agricultural economics or agriscience education. Dr. Paula E. Faulkner, assistant professor in the department of Agricultural Business, Applied Economics and Agriculture Science, is the project director for the program.

The program offers extracurricular activities, including social functions, concerts, and dinners, to help students develop social skills. D’vontae Teasley, a freshman agricultural education major and a MSP scholar, attended the social orientation at the Multicultural Center’s open house on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

“Everyone was welcoming, friendly, made me feel comfortable, and more confident,” said Teasley.

The purpose of this program is to increase the multicultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce, and advance the educational achievement of all Americans by providing competitive grants to colleges and universities. These awards range from $20,000 to $480,000. Faulkner states that the departments’ goal is “to increase the underrepresented or minorities in food and agriculture”.

MSP scholarships are intended to increase the number of new and outstanding students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences, and who pursue and complete their degrees with scientific and professional competence.

The program at A&T provides scholarship support of up to $7,500 for tuition, fees, room, meal plans, books and supplies, and travel expenses to conferences.

Teasley said that to him the program “gives a broader look on what I can do in agriculture. It is an opportunity to study different cultures and the way that they look at agriculture. I hope to gain a decision into what I would like to study in, meet new people and better myself professionally.”

Edwin Catalan, a freshmen agribusiness major, said that the program for him is a way to attend the university. It is a full ride, so that is a good thing. It will teach me to act in a scholarly manner, teach me etiquette and better my chances of getting a job afterwards.”

The MSP funding program opportunity provides training programs that will prepare graduates to meet the demand for highly qualified personnel entering the workforce in the food and agricultural sciences and move more undergraduates into graduate education.

This will increase the representation of diverse cultural groups in that field. It will also address the gap between the races that are entering graduate schools to enable the U.S. higher education system to remain competitive internationally.

While promoting students success in food and agricultural science disciplines at the undergraduate level, the program will also focus on student learning and outcomes, and professional mentoring to ensure a steady matriculation and entry into graduate school or the workforce.

Along with funding support by the USDA and NIFA, additional funding is provided through the Special Experiential Learning opportunities. These opportunities further the development of student scientific and professional competencies, which afford MSP scholars the chance to solve complex real world situation problems.

It’s funding will support eligible MSP scholars for one or two year experiential learning activities that are not normally available to other students at the institution. The department received a four-year grant and Faulkner selected five students to receive the award. The students are required to complete the global studies certificate, travel abroad, maintain satisfactory academic progress, service projects, attend class, present presentations and join clubs.

Faulkner stated, “The reward offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate studies or go to agricultural related employment such as the USDA or other governmental agencies to increase diversity.”

When asked what the most memorable experience so far has been, Catalan smiled and said, “Being accepted to A&T and the scholar program are the most exciting part. They also give you a chance to study abroad.”

• Chanel R. Davis