Program Introduces Students to Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences

Alabama A&M University recently welcomed 28 rising high school juniors from seven states to campus for its second annual AgriFCS Summer Academy, a weeklong immersive experience that introduced students to academic programs and careers in Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences while providing an authentic college experience.

The academy exposed students to degree programs in Agriculture, Apparel Merchandising and Design, Human Development and Family Studies, Nutrition and Hospitality Management, and Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Participants traveled from Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Florida, Kansas, Georgia and Mississippi, with five students returning after participating in the inaugural academy in 2025.

Students lived on campus throughout the week, gaining a firsthand look at college life while participating in hands-on learning experiences designed to strengthen leadership, teamwork, communication and critical-thinking skills. Activities included team-building, a tour of Alabama A&M's Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station—livestock, crops and agricultural research, career readiness –resume writing and interviews, financial literacy, professional etiquette training and a formal dinner, service-learning, and on and off campus recreation.

The academy also introduced students to the wide range of career opportunities available within food, agriculture, nutrition and family and consumer sciences while helping them build relationships with faculty, staff and peers.

Led by Dr. Ethel Jones, Chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Principal Investigator for the AgriFCS initiative, along with Project Manager, Mrs. Lenese Vaughner and faculty from across the University, the academy encouraged students to envision themselves as future Bulldogs and future leaders in their chosen professions.

This program was made possible through an $8.7 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Food and Agriculture Professionals Program. Through a partnership between Alabama A&M University and South Carolina State University, this initiative empowers the next generation of professionals in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences by providing vital access to scholarships, paid internships, career exploration, and hands-on learning experiences.

Participant evaluations reflected the academy's impact. Program organizers said one student changed her intended college major from elementary education to family and consumer sciences after attending the academy, highlighting the program’s ability to introduce students to career opportunities they had not previously considered.

“I made new friends, had fun, learned a lot at the Agricultural Research Station,” said Devon Johnson, a recent graduate of Selma High School in Selma, Alabama.

“My favorite thing about the camp is being able to soak up new faces and get exposed to a lot of people,” said Havilland Lucious, a rising junior at W.P. Davidson High School in Mobile, Alabama. “I had a lot of great conversations and I will be thinking about it for months to come.”

To learn more about Alabama A&M University's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and its academic programs, visit Family and Consumer Sciences - Alabama A&M University.