By LaShea DeSelle
Staff Writer
Individuals from all parts of Lawton came together to enjoy a successful fall harvest. The Cameron University Garden began taking plot requests in late March of 2022. Plots are typically in use for the entire summer and fall seasons. Student, staff, and professors along with the community of Lawton are encouraged to request one of the 12 x 12 ft. plots that are available to reserve each March, on a first come first serve basis.
Anyone can reserve a plot simply by contacting the chair of the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences Dr. Mike Husak through email: michaelh@cameron.edu .
Some of the many fall harvest goods being grown are rows of snap peas, okra, cantaloupe, kale, corn, spinach, tomatoes, and peppers.
The Agriculture, Biology, and Health Sciences department offer many opportunities for the students at Cameron University along with programs for high school students who intend on pursuing higher education.
The CU Aggie club is available for Cameron University students who take an interest in agricultural studies and research.
Assistant professor of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences, Alimamy Fornah provided more details of what the Aggie Club is all about. “The Aggie Club is an agricultural student club, and we are planning to use the greenhouse to grow vegetables that we can sell, as a fundraiser during the farmers market event,” Fornah said.
Agriculture students and faculty have access to two, 36 x 50 ft greenhouses attached to the science complex building. Each greenhouse is equipped with heating and cooling systems, space for preparing and planting seeds. This area is also used by the Aggie Club in preperation for research or development.
The Aggie Club is an active participant in recruiting over 500 high school students to attend Cameron University during the National FFA Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Currently the Aggie Club is working on ways to increase student participation. CU students are encouraged to join by contacting the President of the Aggie Club, colby.gilpen@cameron.edu, and Vice President kinsey.black@cameron.edu.
LAWTON FFA
Congratulations to the Lawton FFA chapter for winning 1st place in the agriculture communication event held during the Annual FFA interscholastic competition.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) is an extracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture leadership. Cameron University also has a Collegiate FFA chapter that attends competitions and events such as the Cameron FFA interscholastic, which will take place on April 14, 2023, in Lawton. The annual FFA interscholastic competition has begun taking submissions in various research areas.
For more information concerning the Annual FFA Interscholastic Competition, please contact assistant professor, Dr. Phil Hamilton by email @ phamilton@cameron.edu.
Scholarship opportunities are offered to students in programs such as STEM and OKLSAMP. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a program that has been widely discussed lately because the number of students pursuing STEM has dropped. Through STEM, students focus on hands on learning in college that they can carry on into diverse fields like aeronautics, biochemistry, and engineering. Students looking to join STEM must have a high school diploma in good standing, also requirements needed to join STEM varies depend on the department providing STEM research. Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OKLSAMP) is a scholarship that provides $2,000 to minority students in any STEM program.