EXC2EL Stories - December 2023
Exceptional Effort: Agricultural Mechanics makes networking connections for students seeking employment and internship experiences
When it comes to career connections in applied sciences, one group has made networking a weekly endeavor. The Agriculture Mechanics Lunch & Learn series brings representatives from a different company each week during fall and spring semesters to share lunch with students majoring in agriculture while they learn about the company’s employment and internship opportunities.
The Agriculture Mechanics Lunch & Learn series is in its successful second year bringing together interested companies and Ag Mech students on the Texas State campus. These events have been instrumental in many students’ internship and employment plans.
In one example of the positive outcomes, Xylem, an international water treatment company headquartered in Pittsburgh, has participated in the Lunch & Learn series with great results. Three Agricultural Mechanics alumni are currently employed with the company, and all three have advanced quickly to leadership roles. An additional fall 2023 graduate has accepted a position with Xylem starting in December. A fifth student who interned with Xylem in summer 2023 will accept a full-time position after spring 2024 graduation. The Lunch & Learn partnership has become quite fruitful both for the company and for Texas State students.
Mr. Bradley Borges, senior lecturer in the agriculture program, is instrumental in assuring the lineup of companies for the Lunch & Learns. The impact on students’ experiences is high. He states, “We have seen a tremendous increase in the number of students who complete a summer internship, and we are getting close to having 100% of our students securing full time positions before they walk across the stage!”
Another great outcome is the relationships between Texas State and the local community. Dr. Ryan Anderson, assistant professor of agricultural education and mechanics, states, “Our students love Texas State University and San Marcos, so we try to connect them with companies that have a local footprint. We also try to have the companies presenting at our Lunch & Learn purchase the lunches from locally owned companies when possible.”
The Agricultural Mechanics Lunch & Learn is designed for students in the Applied Arts. For more information, please contact Mr. Brad Borges or Dr. Ryan Anderson. For questions about experiential learning, please contact the EXC2EL Center at exccelcenter@txstate.edu.