2017 ASHS Annual Conference

The investigation and discovery of new information is the driving force to being able to supply sufficient food and nutrition to the growing world population. Through future education and research experiences in a graduate program, I plan on preparing myself for a future in solving the monumental obstacles of insufficient food and malnutrition that are faced daily around the world. If I am chosen as one of the two recipients of the 2017 ASHS Scholars Award, I will use the scholarship to prepare for a lifelong career in horticulture. This scholarship will be used to help offset the cost of my tuition at Iowa State University, allowing me continue my education.

As a Horticulture and Global Resource Systems double major, my education is focused not only with plants, but also on analyzing existing resource systems in the world, understanding how they interact with other systems, and creating ways to improve them without negatively impacting the other systems. One way that this can be achieved is through increasing the strength and reducing the susceptibility of plants to issues in the world. Many parts of world facing food and nutritional issues are in regions that face high temperatures, high humidity, routine drought, and lack freezing temperatures allowing pests and rodents to thrive. The combination of these issues makes it more difficult for the crop to survive throughout the year.

Knowledge gained from research can also help spark interest and gain support of genetically modified crops. Although unaccepted by a vast population of the world, especially where higher education is limited to a small proportion of the population, genetically modified crops can provide numerous benefits that can lead to solving both issues that I am concerned with. An increased knowledge of research, especially from future classes I plan to be enrolled in, I can better prepare myself for teaching and working in other regions of the world advocating for genetically modified crops, and prospectively increasing their usage.

While at Iowa State University, I have been provided the opportunity of being one of a select group of students to be offered membership in Pi Alpha Xi-The National Academic Honor Society for Horticulture. Through Pi Alpha Xi, members in all areas of Horticulture show promise for continued activity and commitment to the field. I am also a member and Communications Officer for the Mid-American Collegiate Horticulture Society, which unifies the Horticulture Clubs in our region promoting Horticulture and related disciplines education. Most recently, I have become the Secretary of the ISU Horticulture Club, serving previously as the Poinsettia Committee Chair. Lastly, I have been on the ISU Deans’ List for many semesters while enrolled at Iowa State. These activities have greatly improved my leadership and interpersonal skills by giving me responsibility, improving my time management skills, keeping me organized, and preparing me to solve problems in the future. By receiving the ASHS Scholars Award, I would be able to continue my education at Iowa State University, while also preparing for my future career in horticulture.