The summer Beginning Agricultural Youth Opportunities Unlimited (BAYOU)
Program at Southern University provides high school students an immersion in career
opportunities in agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and related disciplines.
I decided to do go to Southern University and A&M
College to study urban forestry for several reasons.
I was interested in a career path into the U.S. Forest
Service, which worked with Southern University
and A&M College to create the nation's first bach-
elor's degree in urban forestry and continues to
partner closely with that institution and program,
offering financial, technical, and career develop-
ment assistance. I could see myself represented
in the teaching staff, administration, and student
body—and that was very appealing to me, as it gave
me a sense of belonging. Plus, Baton Rouge, where
Southern University is located, was close to home.
I'm a first-generation college graduate in my family
and it was always a priority of mine to go to college
on a scholarship so I could graduate without a major
financial burden. The U.S. Forest Service partnership
with the Southern University Urban Forestry Degree
Program meant that I could go to college on scholar-
ship and know that there was a network of support,
internships, and the right academics to help me enter
the organization upon graduation. So you can imagine
how meaningful it is for me to come full circle to be
in a position to assist current and future generations
of urban forestry students at Southern through the
ongoing partnership with the Forest Service. >>
16 CityTREES
