Bumpers College Students Attend Ag Media Summit, Earn Two National Awards and One National Officer

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Bumpers College students (from left) Will Clark, Kenley Bramall, Macie Kelly, Sarah Townley, Jessica Wesson, Kylee Sigmon, Graham Smithson with agricultural communications professor Jeff Miller after the National ACT final reception.

Seven students from the University of Arkansas' Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Technology recently traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, for the National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow annual Ag Media Summit, bringing home a national officer and two national awards.

Macie Kelly, Kenley Bramall, Will Clark, Graham Smithson, Jessica Wesson, Kylee Sigmon and Sarah Townley traveled with Jefferson Miller, professor of agricultural communications. The students from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences attended personal and professional development workshops, as well as many networking events.

Wesson was elected the National ACT member relations coordinator.

"I am honored to serve as a national officer this year," Wesson said. "I am very thankful that the membership entrusted me enough to give me this opportunity. I am looking forward to the upcoming year of planning events and bringing a new perspective to the table."

Sigmon and Reynolds won the national award for their communications campaign, Natural State Communications. Madelaine Giebler received the first-place award for the Electronic Communications Website, Creamy Hills Dairy.

"I am honored to have received this award," said Gielbler, who was not able to make the trip. "The courses I have taken, specifically Electronic Communications in Agriculture, helped me gain a better knowledge of web design and management. I am very thankful for the opportunities given to me through my courses."

Students were able to hear from professionals in the agricultural communications industry and were given some pointers for their future careers. The most notable guest speaker was Orion Samuelson, an American broadcaster known for his Farm Reports.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.