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Department of Communications and Agricultural Education

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Story by Brooke Harshaw, senior (ACJ)

After three to five years of figuring out what major to declare, what courses to take, trying to decide what you might want to do with your life and making life-long friends, K-Stater’s head out into the world to start their careers. Many students are coming to the end of their undergraduate careers here, and as a result, must take what they’ve learned and put it to use in the next stage of their life. Some students will be jumping right into full-time jobs, while others will be going to graduate school.

Congratulations to agricultural education graduates!
Congratulations to agricultural education graduates!
Graduates pose with Dr Baker and Dr Ellis following the graduation ceremony on May 16.
Graduates pose with Dr Baker and Dr Ellis following the graduation ceremony on May 16.

Where are ACJ students going?

  • Kennedy St. George is headed to Victory Electric Cooperative in Dodge City, Kansas, to be their Communications Specialist.
  • Paige Druffel is making her way to Omaha, Nebraska, to work for Monsanto as a District Sales Manager Trainee for DEKALB and Asgrow seed.
  • Keelie Curran is taking a job as a Compliance Consultant for Kansas Livestock Association Environmental Services in Scott City, Kansas.
  • Maggie Seiler has accepted the Special Publications Editor position for Hoard’s Dairyman magazine in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
  • Logan Britton is sticking around Manhattan for graduate school in agricultural economics.
  • McKayla Brubaker has an internship with Stewart Seed Co. in Washington, Kansas, in the marketing department with hopes of getting into graduate school at either Mississippi State University or Texas Tech University.

Students shared what they’re most excited about in this next phase of life.

“I’m most excited about proving myself as a professional and being seen as an adult,” St. George says.

Similarly, Druffel says, “I’m really excited to contribute to the Monsanto team, not work in an office and work with seed dealers and farmers every day.”

Curran added, “Getting to put all the skills I have been sharpening to use in the real world and continue to learn so much more once I get there.”

Seiler, who interned with Hoard’s Dairyman last summer, is also excited about putting what she’s learned to work. “Hoard’s is a fantastic company with a strong history of reporting helpful and accurate information to producers. Since Hoard’s focuses on dairy, I will be able to really specialize on the industry I am most passionate about. I am also looking forward to applying the knowledge I gained growing up on the farm and in classes at K-State.”

“I am excited about doing research in consumer behavior as well as potentially being the teaching assistant for some agricultural economic courses. Also, I’m really excited about looking at Ph.D. programs,” Britton says.

Like Britton, Brubaker is excited for graduate school. While he will continue his education here, Brubaker’s curiosity has led her to explore colleges elsewhere. She said, “I’m most excited about the potential to go somewhere new for grad school, even though it is a little scary.”

Fifteen students graduated with degrees in Agricultural Education. They include:

Hannah Kate Anderson, Tara Marie Glidden, Alicia Noel Hampton, Kaitlyn Joy Harlow, Theresa Louise Jardine, Kayla Wesley’Ann Klahr, Sarah Nichole Lewis, Jonathan Aaron Meyer, Sara Nicole Schifferdecker, Kinzie Diane Selke, Amanda Taylor Strickler, Jacob William Stroda, Katelyn Nicole Vincent, Sara Ruth Ann Wendt, and Mackenzie Douglas Witzel

Four students completed a master’s degree in communications and agricultural education. Congratulations to Jennifer Ray, Buddy McKendree, Scott Stebner and Jessie Topp!

Of course, they will miss the K-State family, and we will miss them. Good luck to all of our graduates on your new endeavors!

 

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