Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Oregon State University student chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) has won the Region VI Outstanding Chapter Award for the seventh time and was one of the top three chapters in the country to continue in the competition.

The national second place award for Chapter of the Year was presented to the OSU chapter at the annual career fair and training conference in Atlanta, Ga.

In addition, three students received national research awards. Sarah Wright took third place in oral undergraduate research, Tiffany Harper took second place in oral undergraduate research, and Vananh Nguyen took second place oral graduate research.

Tiffany Harper was elected undergraduate vice president for Region VI.

"The national MANRRS mission is to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences," said Wanda Crannell, the group's adviser. Membership is open to all students at all levels from high school to graduate school and who come from a variety of colleges and departments, although more than half are from the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Many students rate high academically but being in good standing is all that's required," Crannell said "A sense of belonging and working together on shared activities is important for the vast majority who are the first in their family to pursue higher education." Each student is mentored by upper classmen, professionals from industry or faculty members from OSU or the 70 college chapters across the country.

"The OSU MANRRS chapter is the most diverse and actively engaged in professional development, leadership and community service projects in the nation," Crannell said.

"We provide mentoring and networking opportunities, connect students to available resources, conduct workshops for professional development to help students define and achieve their goals, provide community service opportunities to promote active citizenship, and support the College of Agricultural Sciences in meeting its diversity related goals."