Houghton College Students Attend National MANRRS Conference

(L-R) Dr. Rebecca Williams, John Khalaf, Erik Sorensen, Michael Cha, and Jacob Annis.

By Kara Morley

HOUGHTON, NY - April 18, 2018 – Four Houghton College data science students and a college faculty adviser recently attended the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) 33rd Annual Career Fair and Training Conference, which took place in Greensboro, NC.

 Students Jacob Annis ’18, Michael Cha ‘18, John Khalaf ’19, and Erik Sorensen ’20, had the opportunity to network with other individuals in their field, attend a career fair, and participate in training sessions and workshops. They also learned more about precision science and how their studies at Houghton relate to the agriculture industry. While data science specifically contributes to precision in agriculture, a variety of majors, such as business, marketing, communication, math, physics, or engineering, are all needed in the agriculture industry.

“It was a pleasure to support these students and see how this opportunity can help improve their studies, professional growth, and help build their futures,” remarks Rebecca Williams, assistant professor of biology and adviser.

 Participation with MANRRS benefits undergraduate students in a variety of ways, including professional development and growth, prestigious internships and jobs in large industries and government organizations, and access to innovative ideas to implement locally. Through participation with MANRRS, Cha landed his current internship with John Deere Financial, as well as one with the company’s Intelligence Solutions Group last summer. Sorensen will intern there this summer, while Annis will work with the Land O Lakes Company after his graduation this May.

 Annis, who is president of the Houghton College chapter of MANRRS, won third place in the conference’s elevator speech competition, and was also elected as the undergraduate vice president of Region I, which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

 Cha has served as the national undergraduate president of MANRRS for the past year, and will continue to serve as past national undergraduate president in the upcoming year (2018-2019).

 MANRRS is a national society that promotes the advancement of minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. The society welcomes people of all racial and ethnic groups.