Inaugural Junior MANRRS Leadership Symposium successfully engages Michigan youth
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EmailMore than 100 young students introduced to careers in agriculture, natural resources
EAST LANSING, Michigan – This March, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) hosted the inaugural Junior Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Leadership Symposium.
The event, hosted Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, welcomed 106 participants in grades 7-12 and provided students with an introduction to agriculture, natural resources and related sciences fields.
During the two-day symposium, attendees engaged in immersive sessions that explored career pathways in the agricultural industry. Students participated in workshops dedicated to professional development, engaged with academic units within CANR and participated in contests that included impromptu public speaking.
The symposium, held in collaboration with MANRRS chapters from the University of Kentucky and Langston University, also allowed students to connect with collegiate members from across the nation.
Ayodele Dare, educational program coordinator in the CANR Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, credits the active collaboration with MANRRS partners as a key element to the symposium’s success.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of these universities in this effort,” said Dare. “The purpose of this collaboration was to increase the opportunities for high school students to gain interest in the agricultural fields. We wanted to bridge the gap and develop future collaborations for events like this that truly benefit the student and lead to greater achievement beyond the classroom.”
As a result of the event’s success, CANR and the ODEI intend to organize a second Junior MANRRS Leadership Symposium in 2025.
Additionally, efforts are in progress (in collaboration with MSU Extension) to establish Junior MANRRS chapters across the state with hopes of eventually creating a Junior MANRRS Michigan program. Conversations of forming local chapters are already developing in Genesse, Ingham, Lake, Mason, Muskegon and Wayne counties.
