SSWD Center and Farm Credit Scholarship Awardees

My name is Nathaniel “Nate” Adkins and I am from Reidsville, N.C. I am a senior Agricultural and Environmental Systems major with a concentration in Agribusiness and Food Industry Management at North Carolina A&T State University. I long for the day when marginalized and disadvantaged agriculture communities have a voice in the policies and regulations passed that directly affect their ways of life. Upon graduation in December 2023, I will return to A&T as a graduate student in the Agribusiness and Food Industry Management program.

My name is Ryah Sewel. I am from Covington, GA. I attend North Carolina A&T State University. I am a freshman agricultural education student. I chose this major because of my love for children and animals. I plan to pursue a career as a veterinary science teacher and have a farm where I breed animals for livestock showings.

My name is Leonard Jackai and I am from Greensboro, N.C. I am a senior majoring in Agricultural and Environmental Systems with a minor in psychology at North Carolina A&T State University. I plan to attend graduate school and will continue research on Big Data in small-scale agriculture.

My name is Isa Salaam and I am from Tallahassee, FL, where I am a senior agribusiness major at Florida A&M University. I chose this major to gain more insight into the process of how food is sourced and how it is distributed. My plan is to study agricultural economics in a graduate program and conduct research on how we can improve our interactions with the environment.

My name is Alaina Brock and I am from Raleigh, N.C. I am a junior food science major at North Carolina A&T State University. I chose food science because I have always had a love of cooking and chemistry. Chemistry was my favorite subject in school, and I regularly cooked with my family, so food science was the perfect intersection. I enjoy the rigor of laboratory work, and I even get to eat my experiments afterwards! In the future, I plan to work for a major snack food corporation to improve the flavor, quality, and nutritional value of snack foods.

My name is Miles Lee and I am a sophomore from Decatur, GA. I attend North Carolina A&T State University and my major is Agriculture and Environmental Systems, with a concentration in Sustainable Land and Food Systems. My interest in agriculture began in childhood, digging up earthworms. I want to continue working with the USDA as a soil conservation agronomist and develop skills in public policy. I want to eventually operate an urban teaching farm for underserved youth.

My name is Bailey Dyson and I am from Davie County, N.C. I attend North Carolina A&T State University and I am a freshman animal science major. After receiving my bachelor's degree, I plan to obtain my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Board-Certified Specialty concentration.

My name is Afiya Ward and I am from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. My major is Agribusiness. I chose this major because it represents the intersection of STEM and Business, which are passions of mine, and it allows me to bring a scientific and research-based approach to the business world. Though I am not sure what my exact path will look like, I am excited about the opportunity to go into a career that allows me to have a positive impact on public and community health, and I think majoring in Agribusiness will equip me with a unique perspective on health equity and systems that affect public health.

My name is Nandi Muhammad and I am a sophomore animal science major from New Orleans, LA. I attend Tuskegee University and aspire to be a small animal veterinarian and someday own my own clinic. I also pride myself on community outreach focused on showing children of color the endless possibilities that animal science holds, in hopes of further diversifying the field.

My name is Kamron Wright, and I am from Greensboro, Georgia. I am a junior agricultural economics major at Fort Valley State University. I decided to get a degree in agriculture and work in the federal, state, or local agriculture sectors so that I can assist other people, such as landowners, farmers, and ranchers, in understanding the importance of conservation methods and sustainability.

My name is Sierra Cloud. I am from Atlanta, Georgia and I am a senior plant science (biotechnology) major at Fort Valley State University. The plant science program best addressed my need to dedicate myself to my community by advocating for them in agricultural spaces. I plan to go to graduate school to become a multifaceted researcher.

My name is Bellodgia Roberson. I am from Houston, TX. I attend Langston University. My major is agricultural sciences in crop and soil sciences, and I am a senior. I’ve always loved helping my father with chores outside. I plan to help bring awareness to communities about being self-sufficient by growing your own food and helping people do the most with their land.

My name is Jacquez Daniels. I am from Tallahassee, Florida. I am a senior entomology major at Florida A&M University. After graduation, I will continue my education as a master’s degree student at Florida A&M. My areas of interest include working with Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and fostering public awareness through outreach and extension.

My name is Naylah Maple, an animal science major at North Carolina A&T State University. I have always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a little girl, so I have worked very hard to get to this point. After college, I plan to go to veterinary school to get my doctorate and then work on-site at a zoo as an exotic veterinarian.

My name is Jayden Klund. I am from Jamestown, Missouri. I attend Lincoln University. I am majoring in natural resources and minoring in wildlife management. I chose this major was because I have a huge passion for the outdoors and am an avid hunter and fisherman. With this degree, I plan to have a career with the Missouri Department of Conservation.