by Maggie Stanton
2/10/17
Amelia Govert began her K-State journey as a general agricultural major. “I grew up in a small town in Kansas on a farm,” said Govert. “So I was always interested in the College of Agriculture and liked it a lot.”
An interest in agriculture, science, and K-State runs in the family. Govert said her siblings all attend or have attended K-State; her brother is currently studying animal science, her older sister graduated in kinesiology, and her other sister studied agricultural economics.
Govert base
d her decision to major in food science on her goals for her future. Now a student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Physician Assistant (PA) program, Govert said the food science program gave her a good plan B if she found out PA school wasn’t for her. With an 100 percent job placement rate, Govert felt she had a wide range of options beyond PA school.
As a PA student, Govert said she wouldn’t change anything about her decision to major in food science, adding that it helped her stand out in her PA school applications, and it continues to help in her career field .
She’s also found the course work she took as an undergrad to be very relevant to her studies now. “I’ve been surprised and thankful by how much my education has helped me,” said Govert. Her studies have tackled everything from learning about foodborne illnesses, labeling of foods, and understanding the science behind food processing so she is able to explain to diabetic patients what they can and cannot eat. In fact, Govert said her Food Science background helped her to be able to educate a doctor on the misinformation he was presenting about antibiotics in dairy products.
Govert advises students in the food science pre-health option to think ahead. “Try to make your schedule pertain to medicine or food in general, so it’s pertinent when you get to professional school,” said Govert. “Be involved as much as possible, get good grades and network, because that’s going to matter.” She also encourages students to obtain a food science internship and study abroad so they get a better understanding of the field.
Finally, Govert says make sure you enjoy your time at K-State. “I miss everything about K-State,” said Govert. “I really miss being able to walk around campus and see people you know. It just feels like home.”