Real Pork Scholars is a National Pork Board’s two-year, prestigious program identifying outstanding students engaging in value-added experiences while conducting academic work to positively advance U.S. pork production and empower emerging leaders to educate various audiences about the industry.
Congratulations to these students with ties to Texas:
- Rachel Self, a graduate student studying production and monogastric nutrition at the University of Missouri, originally from Nacogdoches, Texas.
- Bianca Metallo, a graduate student studying swine welfare and behavior at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
- Michael Rezendes, a graduate student studying animal science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
They will learn best practices for communicating scientific research effectively to multiple audiences, helping answer common questions about the pork industry, especially related environment, public health, community, animal welfare, food safety, and people. This mentoring and network-building opportunity will officially launch this fall.
Michael Rezendes – Texas A&M University
Michael Rezendes, a graduate student studying animal science at Texas A&M University, is one of nine graduate students joining the 2024 cohort of the Real Pork Scholar program through the National Pork Board. Rezendes, originally from central California, and other scholars will receive professional development training, mentorship opportunities and hands-on experiences to broaden their ability to support the swine industry.
“I am extremely excited to get to join the Real Pork Scholars program and strengthen my knowledge and understanding from those industry professionals in the trenches, the ones who work in this field day in and day out,” said Rezendes.
Bianca Metallo – Texas Tech University
Bianca Metallo, a graduate student studying swine welfare and behavior at Texas Tech University, is one of nine graduate students joining the 2024 cohort of the Real Pork Scholar program through the National Pork Board. Metallo, originally from Berkeley, California, and other scholars will receive professional development training, mentorship opportunities, and hands-on experiences to broaden their ability to support the swine industry.
“The Real Pork Scholars program is an extraordinary opportunity to connect one’s graduate-level research directly to the professional industry it strives to positively impact,” said Metallo. “As a student that is enthusiastic about learning from industry professionals, mentors, and peers, and who aspires to develop their professional communication skills, the Real Pork Scholars program seemed an unparalleled experience, and I am so excited to be a part of it.”
Rachel Self – University of Missouri
Rachel Self, a graduate student studying production and monogastric nutrition at the University of Missouri, is one of nine graduate students joining the 2024 cohort of the Real Pork Scholar program through the National Pork Board. Self, originally from Nacogdoches, Texas, and other scholars will receive professional development training, mentorship opportunities, and hands-on experiences to broaden their ability to support the swine industry.
“I wanted to join the Real Pork Scholars program for networking opportunities with fellow graduate students and professionals in the swine industry, developing my personal and professional development,” said Self. “I am looking forward to improving my research and presentation skills for avocation for agriculture within and outside of the industry.”
Help us congratulate Rachel Self, Bianca Metallo, and Michael Rezendes for their appointment to the 2024 cohort. Learn more about the program on porkcheckoff.org.