SU Ag Students and Faculty Members Participate in an International Trip to China
Baton Rouge, La. – Seven Southern University College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences (CAHES) students and two faculty members are among over 1,000 participants from 28 countries and regions participating in the 2024 Global Youth Conference & China-U.S. Youth Camp.
The conference, which is themed “Sharing Youth, Enjoying the Future,” is being held in Beijing, China. The conference began on July 11, 2024.
The students, Tyler Jackson, a senior pre-veterinary medicine major; Georrein Dupre, a graduate student in Environmental Toxicology; Sterling Brown, a senior AgriBusiness major; Yasmyne Wells, a graduate student in Environmental Toxicology; Jude Robert, a sophomore AgriBusiness major; Nyasha Sims, a senior Child Studies major; and Evan Egana, a graduate student in the Dietetic Internship Program are being accompanied by Alexis Motley, CAHES Dietetic Internship Director/Instructor; and Keandrys Dalton, CAHES Student Support Coordinator.
Each student was recommended to attend the conference by one of their professors. Many of the students stated they were shocked when they received the news that they had been nominated to go to China.
“Finals week started on campus and I had four of my finals on a Monday,” recounted Jude Robert about the day he learned he had been recommended to go on the trip. “On that day I was walking across campus to get lunch when I received a phone call from Ms. Dalton and right before I picked up the phone I told one of my friends, ‘I just need to go study and I keep getting phone calls and I don’t know what’s going on,” he added with a laugh.
Members of the group also expressed their excitement for the opportunity and what they planned to gain from the experience.
“I’m most excited about hearing the different languages and trying to learn something more than just saying hello in Chinese,” expressed Nyasha Sims. “I’m interested in going down the clinical psychology route so how people talk to each other and interact with each other is a major interest of mine.”
“As a dietitian, I’m excited to see what other countries are doing as it comes to food, especially on the nutrition side but I also want to bring back some healthy recipes that we can tweak here at the Ag Center and put our own spin on it when Café` Lacumba reopens,” said Alexia Motley.
Keandrys Dalton also expressed her thankfulness for this opportunity. Dalton was able to participate in a study-abroad program to Brazil while attending Southern University.
“Once I graduated, I knew I wanted to work with students and show students the world,” she stated. “I’m glad our students will be able to experience this opportunity because it doesn’t come around every day.”
Although most of the students were excited to go on the international trip, the recommendation did come with some apprehension for one of the students.
“I was very hesitant when Mrs. Motley told me because I have a six-year-old and I’m a single parent,” said Evan Egana. “The thought of me going away from my daughter for two weeks almost made me have a full-blown panic attack.”
Egana said that after Motley reassured her that everything will be okay and her family told her that they would care for her daughter while she was away, she felt better about the opportunity.
“I just want her to know that anything is possible and if you have a dream you can do it,” stated Egana.
Additional topics of interest for the students included learning about Chinese culture, their agricultural practices, logistics and supply chain, trade, foreign policies, import and export system, international networking, and food/cooking culture.
During the conference, students will engage in cultural exchange and friendship-building, learn about Shandong’s history through lectures, participate in workshops covering topics such as e-commerce and traditional Chinese music, visit several landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, and participate in interactive activities such as E-Games and tree planting.
The CAHES group is part of a 71-student delegation from universities throughout Louisiana participating in the conference. The Louisiana group will return home on July 24, 2024.
Students from China will also have an opportunity to travel to the United States in the winter through this program.
The CAHES’ trip was sponsored and organized by the Shandong Travel and Airline, G2 Club, Stonebridge Golf Club, and Olde Oaks Golf Club.