CAHNRS awarded four $1,000 scholarships through a random drawing at Fall Festival. All that was required to enter was an application.
Sara Adams
Freshman, Ag and Food Systems
Why did you choose WSU?
My ultimate goal was to become a veterinarian so I chose WSU, of course! My backup plan was to be an Ag Ed major, and again WSU has a very well-renowned Ag program!
What do you love most about being a CAHNRS Coug?
All through high school I was heavily involved in Ag programs and I loved everything about it, so upon moving here I found a great Ag program again and was so thrilled.
What would be your dream job?
I want to be an agriculture teacher.
What was your favorite part of Fall Festival?
Winning the scholarship! However, I also enjoyed getting to know about all of the different programs and clubs that CAHNRS has to offer.
Taylor Esvelt
Junior, Animal Sciences
Why did you choose WSU?
I chose WSU because it has one of the top veterinary schools in the country, which is what I’ll be applying for. Plus my dad is a Coug alum!
What do you love most about being a CAHNRS Coug?
That there are so many clubs that pertain to animal and agriculture-related fields that it makes it easier to make friends and get involved in my career path. I am a member of the Block & Bridle club and have made many friends through it.
What would be your dream job?
I love being around animals, raising them, watching them grow, and nursing them back to health, so I would like to be a large animal vet or an animal nutritionist helping keep animals healthy.
What was your favorite part of Fall Festival?
The food and games were a lot of fun, along with recruiting new members to our club, and winning the scholarship made for a great ending.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I can’t thank CAHNRS senators, ambassadors, and everyone that helps put on the Fall Festival enough! It was such a blast meeting other kids in the school and checking out the other clubs’ booths and games. I would also like to thank everyone who donated to the scholarship.
Sean McCotter
Graduate Student, Entomology
Why did you choose WSU?
I chose WSU because I had a great internship experience here. While attending Bellevue College, I took courses offered by the Community College Genomics Initiative (COMGEN) which was partially supervised by several WSU professors/USDA employees. USDA and NSF jointly funded COMGEN and helped fund a summer internship for me in the WSU Department of Plant Pathology, studying speciation in morel mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. I enjoyed the work a lot, so when I heard an assistantship was open in Dr. Lori Carris’ lab, I jumped at the opportunity.
What do you love most about being a CAHNRS Coug?
I very much enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere and the cooperation between the students and faculty.
What would be your dream job?
My dream job is to someday run my own lab and advise graduate students, conducting basic research in mycology and microbiology.
Are you working on any research projects?
Our lab recently sequenced the genome of the common bunt, or stinking smut of wheat (Tilletia caries), a fungal pathogen of the grass family. My research seeks to understand the genes involved in sex in these fungi, which is a prerequisite to host-plant infection. I must say, microbial romance is very fascinating!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am truly inspired by the research and teaching of the CAHNRS departments and I know my work here will go a long way towards forwarding my dream. I am also extremely grateful for my scholarship!
Robert Zinna
Graduate Student, Entomology
Why did you choose WSU?
I chose WSU because of the research opportunities it offers, as well as the change of pace. I came originally from South Carolina, so moving all the way to Washington State was a huge change, as well as being the farthest I have ever been from home. Studying entomology under Dr. Laura Lavine is another reason I’m here.
What do you love most about being a CAHNRS Coug?
It’s learning about the different ways people interact with agriculture, as well as the sense of camaraderie our entire college has.
What would be your dream job?
My dream job is to be a research professor at an institution similar to WSU. I love teaching!
Are you working on any research projects?
My current research project with Dr. Lavine involves investigating the genetic mechanisms behind the giant head horns in Japanese rhinoceros beetles. I want to know what genes make a horn grow, and how those genes have evolved over time, as well as how these horns grow in response to nutrition.