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Networking is key to the future, local scholar
says |
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April 6, 2017 |
By Jean Parrella
University of Idaho College of Agricultural and
Life Sciences
University of Idaho sophomore Collin Stone sees
networking as the key ingredient to a successful
future. Stone is majoring in agricultural
education and agribusiness in the College of
Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). He became
familiar with the university at a young age
through early networking.
Stone grew up on a small family farm in Bonners
Ferry and became involved with UI through the
4-H Youth Development program. Later, Stone
became an active FFA member and decided that
agriculture would be a part of his future.
“I had so many connections to UI already through
4-H and FFA,” Stone said. “We would always come
down here for events so I was really comfortable
with the campus. I also knew that the ag program
here was definitely something profound and
well-known across the Pacific Northwest.”
In high school, Stone was the student council
treasurer and representative. He said the
constant social interaction from these positions
helped him prepare for his activities at UI.
Stone became a CALS ambassador to share his
passion for agriculture and his love for the
college. He enjoys sharing his experience with
high school students and encouraging them to
pursue higher education.
“Being an ambassador is kind of like being a
teacher,” Stone said. “It’s really rewarding to
get students interested in college and looking
into their futures.”
Stone is also the vice president of the Sigma
Chi fraternity at UI, in charge of philanthropy
and marketing. Last year, Sigma Chi raised
$10,000 to give back to their international
philanthropy, the Huntsmen Cancer Institution in
Utah.
“The networking is huge and the opportunity for
involvement is something that I really
appreciate,” Stone said. “It’s really cool being
in charge of opportunities to give back to the
community.”
Stone’s ultimate goal is to work with people,
whether it be teaching agriculture in a
classroom or as a consultant for an agriculture
company. A former high school teacher of his at
Bonners Ferry High School, Adam Ineck, first
inspired the idea of becoming a teacher.
“He was like another father figure to me and my
mentor,” Stone said.
Kasee Smith, an assistant professor in the
Department of Agricultural and Extension
Education, has motivated Stone to think harder
about becoming a teacher.
“The way she gave us new ideas and different
ways of thinking about how to teach in the
classroom made me think really hard about
teaching,” Stone said. “She made it really
enjoyable and she made you feel like you could
really do it. She gave a fresh new perspective.”
The faculty/student ratio in CALS and the family
atmosphere also helps Stone network.
“Some of my classes here are even smaller than
my high school classes, which is kind of crazy
to think about since my school was only about
450 students,” Stone said. “So that’s something
special — you get a lot of hands on experience
and a lot more one on one interaction that can
help you in the future. I also know almost
everyone in my classes and having that
experience is something really special.” |
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