Entomology students honored with scholarships at Great Lakes Expo annual banquet
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EmailFour MSU Entomology students were honored at the 2015 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo Annual Banquet in December 2015. They were among 14 students to receive scholarships from Michigan's fruit and vegetable industry.
Four MSU Entomology students were honored at the 2015 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo Annual Banquet in December 2015. They were among 14 students to receive scholarships from Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry.
Mitchell Efaw will graduate May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Michigan State University (MSU). He would like to work in research or possibly sales, preferring to work in tree fruit, specifically apples. Eventually, he would like to earn his master’s degree.
Ashley Leach earned her bachelor’s degree in Entomology at MSU in 2013 and is currently working on her master’s degree in Entomology at Cornell University, where her research focuses on managing thrips in onion cropping systems. She was a research technician in the Isaacs Lab while at MSU, as well as a field scout for CHS Inc. and a MAEAP technician. Leach plans to eventually work as an extension educator or agricultural consultant.
Jason Matlock will graduate fall 2018 from MSU with his PhD in Entomology. After graduation, he is interested in working with the agricultural industry, government and academia. He would like to use the concerns of farmers and the influence of legislators to facilitate the future of agriculture.
Kristen Poley will graduate summer 2016 with a master’s degree in Entomology from MSU. She would like to use her entomology position as a tool to understand agricultural ecology in Michigan. She hopes to translate cutting-edge science into practical and realistic methods for growers by writing grants, newsletters, and reviews that are available to the public.
The following companies made financial contributions to help fund scholarships to deserving students in the fruit and vegetable industries: Agro Fresh, Inc. (SmartFresh), All Fresh GPS LLC, Breckenridge Insurance, Crop Production Services, Fruit Growers News, Vegetable Growers News, MACMA Apple Division, Meister Publications (American Fruit Grower and American Vegetable Grower), Michigan State Horticultural Society, Michigan Vegetable Council, Nestle/Gerber, North Bay Producer Inc., Syngenta, Valent USA (Zeal and MaxCel), and Wilbur-Ellis Company.
