MANRRS Student Scholarship Winners Share PestWorld Experiences

MANRRS student scholarship winners Jamesia Henderson, Florida A&M University and Amina Twaibu, University of Arkansas, both post-graduate students, shared their PestWorld experiences.

MANNRS Student Scholarship Winners
Jamesia Henderson (fourth from left) and Amina Twaibu (sixth from left) were recognized during PestWorld.
Joel Nolasco

Posted by Posted by Brad Harbison

Published November 09, 2022

Editor’s note: NPMA’s Diversity Council awarded MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) students with scholarships that provided them with all-expenses-paid trips to PestWorld 2022 in Boston. Jamesia Henderson, Florida A&M University and Amina Twaibu, University of Arkansas, both post-graduate students, shared their PestWorld experiences in the following essays.

Greetings! I am Jamesia Henderson, a second-year masters of science in entomology student at Florida A&M University. 

I am involved in Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) on campus and recently applied to attend PestWorld 2022.  Once the acceptance email was received, the communication between the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Diversity Council and me was outstanding. 

Initially, I expected a conference consisting only of educational sessions, but once I arrived I was immediately met with a massive exhibit hall and bright smiles. The NPMA Diversity Council members I interacted with welcomed me with open arms and were determined to introduce me to individuals and companies that are potential employers’ post-graduation. This experience truly expanded my perspective on the pest control industry and how to build professional relationships. I had the opportunity to meet new people, learn from others’ experiences, share my experiences and understand how to progress within the industry as an entomologist. I conversed with men and women from different backgrounds, feeling comfortable and supportive as a future pest management professional.

Before this conference I was uncertain of my future, not sure how I could make an impact in my community that is considered different from the norm. Fortunately, I received confirmation that the profession I am currently pursuing is not a mistake and I left feeling more confident. I could foresee a future that I was unable to imagine before. I discovered how I could combine both my health science and future entomology degrees and pursue my interests in medical entomology. I hope communication with the NPMA Diversity Council will continue in the future. I am thankful for the opportunity to attend and I will make it my personal mission to encourage other students to apply in the future! 

 
Jamesia Henderson

Florida A&M University

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Firstly, I would like to thank the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) through MANNRS for nominating and sponsoring me to attend this important conference in Boston. It was the greatest opportunity I have ever experienced in my life, and I had a lot of fun! Below are the expectations and the experiences from the conference.
 
Expectation. My first expectation was to learn how pests are managed by different companies and organizations. For instance, technologies that are being developed and released to help manage different pests. Secondly, was to meet different people from different disciplines and from different countries and regions.
 
Outcomes/ Experiences
Networking. The conference gave me an opportunity to meet people from different disciplines through the different events that I attended from the day I arrived until the last day. I met people belonging to different companies, organizations, and universities. I was able to interact with these people and learn what they are doing. Additionally, I also shared the focus area of my master’s research to these different people and received some good advice. 
 
Apart from networking with people from different companies, organizations, and universities, I was privileged to meet and network with very important people from the National Pest Management Association who helped me to meet other individuals from their network. Furthermore, on the third day of the conference, October 13, 2022, I met with Professional Women in Pest Management through the organized breakfast. This was also a good networking event since I encountered fellow women who are doing great job in pest control. Additionally, I was motivated with everything these women are doing in the pest management industry. International Reception and organized dinners were also other important events where I met different individuals and network with them.
 
Learning New Things. Through different education sessions that I attended, I learn and discovered new things that shall greatly help me with my master’s research as well as my career. The exhibition was also a good place where I learn different technologies developed and released by companies and universities to help manage different pests. These two events gave me a clear insight of the area of my specialization here at the university as well as other many areas of focus to concentrate on.
 
Diversity. One unique thing I observed at the conference was the inclusion of people from different backgrounds including different races and regions. All these people came together with a common goal of disseminating a message on pest management regardless of race or ethnicity. This inspired me a lot that regardless of where I come from, I can get involved with anybody and make a difference.
 
Lastly, the conference helped me to have a good direction on my career because before the conference, I did not know what to do after I get my masters and or what kinds of opportunities are available relating to my area of study. However, the different events I attended at the conference acted as an eye opener and a motivation for me to be able to make informed decisions regarding my career. Additionally, I discovered that pest control industry has a great impact in the society, and I decided to be part of this team and help to make a change. 
 
Amina Twaibu
University of Arkansas
 
 
 
 
 

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