Summer internship program has impact on UGA-Tifton Young Scholars

Published 10:00 am Thursday, July 12, 2018

TIFTON — Young scholars, past and present, recommend the six-week internship to other high school students looking for a career in agriculture.

The Young Scholars program, hosted by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is a summer internship that introduces high school students to agricultural-related careers. The program is offered on the Athens, Griffin and Tifton campuses.

Young Scholars on the UGA Tifton campus believe the program has significantly impacted their career paths as they prepared for college.

“I think the program is great. I have met some amazing people, and my advice is if you like grass, then go for it,” said Amy Deariso, a 17-year-old Young Scholar from Colquitt County. She is studying forages this summer with UGA post-doctoral researcher Lisa Baxter.

Like Deasario, this is 16-year-old Luis Torres’ first year in the program. The Tifton resident works with UGA Extension poultry scientist Claudia Dunkley. He’s seen baby chicks hatch and grow this summer and has learned about poultry science.

“I really want to pursue a career in poultry and egg science since there is still so much for me to learn,” Torres said.

This year’s Young Scholars at UGA-Tifton include: Cole Byers, Kirsten Flinn, Peyton Matt, Walt Sanders and Luis Torres of Tifton; Lydia Connell of Chula; Amy Deariso of Meigs; Porter Hill of Cordele; Jessica Lane of Oakfield; Mitchell Mathis of Lexington; and Mitchell Riley of Moultrie.

During the previous two summers, the Young Scholars program helped prepare Bailey Veeder for his future. Though he is from Athens, Veeder relocated to Tifton to pursue his interest in engineering. In 2016, he learned how drone research impacts agriculture from UGA agricultural engineer Glen Rains. Last year, he worked with UGA scientist Craig Kvien on the Future Farmstead, an energy efficient research home on the UGA Tifton campus. Veeder helped design a 10-kilowatt solar array for the project.

“(Young Scholars) taught me how to manage my money, be responsible with my time and how to be persistent when something is found to be difficult,” Veeder said.

The Young Scholars program has a bright future, according to Teri Hughes and Suzanne Lamb, UGA Tifton Young Scholars coordinators. They want to spread the word about the program and give high achieving high school students the chance to participate in the program.

“I really hope it exposes more and more students to a science field, especially females, since they are the minority in agricultural science related fields,” Hughes said.

Dacee Blawn was one of those females who profited from her time as a Young Scholar. She participated in the program for three summers. She worked with Gary Burtle, a UGA scientist specializing in aquaculture, for all three years and was responsible for assisting with basic care and maintenance of the aquacultural unit at UGA-Tifton.

“I loved the program. It really made me feel as though I was capable of working in a research setting, and as an intellectual, it sparked my interests in aqua-hydroponics,” Blawn said.

During the six-week program, students also participate in community outreach days and field trips. At the end of the program, students give a project presentation to share what they learn. The internship program started in early June and will conclude on Friday, July 13, with a ceremony on UGA’s main campus in Athens.

Students who hope to apply next year, need to submit their high school transcript and fill out an application. More information can be found at www.caes.uga.edu/academics/diversity-affairs/programs/young-scholars. Young Scholars are selected through an interview process.