USDA-TAMUK Career Experience Program

Thanks to USDA funding, students have the opportunity to gain technical skills in science and research through career experiences. Currently, Texas A&M University—Kingsville has seven USDA Projects that fund undergraduates to pursue internships in their fields of interest that relate to careers in agricultural, biological and food industry fields. The projects are designed to enhance the educational programs of outstanding students that are capable of enhancing the nation’s food, agricultural, and natural resource scientific and professional work force.

Projects

There are several institutions collaborating with the seven projects. The institutions include: University of Puerto Rico, Florida International University, Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas A&M Soltis Center for Education and Research-Costa Rica.

TAMUK Faculty/Staff Contact Information

Dr. Shad Nelson (shad.nelson@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Randy Stanko (randy.stando@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Tanner Machado (tanner.machado@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Consuelo Donato (consuelo.donato@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Greta Schuster (greta.schuster@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Steven Chumbley (steven.chumbley@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Veronica Ancona (veronica.ancona@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Joel Reyes-Cabrera (joel.cabrera@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Humberto Perotto (humberto.perotto@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Evan Tanner (evan.tanner@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Natasha Mast (natasha.mast@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Michelle Garcia (michelle.garcia@tamuk.edu)

Dr. Jason Apple (jason.apple@tamuk.edu)

Project Directors and Co-Project Directors

GO START NOW

Lead Institution: Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Project Director: Dr. Randy Stanko
- Co-PDs: Dr. Steven Chumbley, Dr. Shad Nelson, Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Greta Schuster, and Dr. Tanner Machado
Collaborators
- Florida International University--Lead Collaborator: Dr. K. Jayachandran
- University of Puerto Rico--Lead Collaborator: Dr. D. Sotomayor

AgriCULTURE

Project Director: Dr. Maria Hernandez-Velez
Co-PDs: Dr. Rudolf Bohm, Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Tanner Machado, and Dr. Shad Nelson

NRCS

Lead Institution: Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Project Dirctor: Dr. Tanner Machado
- Co-PDs: Dr. Shad Nelson, Dr. Randy Stanko, Dr. Consuelo Donato, and Dr. Greta Schuster
Collaborators
- University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez--Dr. David Sotomayor

MSPEAL

Project Director: Dr. Tanner Machado
Co-PDs: Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Randy Stanko, Dr. Michelle Garcia, Dr. Jason Apple, and Dr. Shad Nelson

Drone WAVE FACTOR

Project Director: Dr. Humberto Perotto
Co-PDs: Dr. Consuelo Donato, Dr. Evan Tanner, and Dr. Natasha Mast

Connecting the Dots in the Global Fresh Produce Market

Project Director: Dr. Veronica Ancona
Co-PDs: Dr. Consuelo Donato, and Dr. Joel Reyes-Cabrera

MEAT'S Workforce (Manager Education and Agriculture Technical Skills)

Lead Institution--Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Project Director: Dr. Tanner Machado
- Co-PD: Dr. Jason Apple
Collaborator--Palo Alto College
- Co-PD: Ty Chumbley

Workforce TEAM (Training, Experience About Meat)

Lead Institution--Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Project Director: Dr. Tanner Machado
- Co-PD: Dr. Jason Apple
Collaborators
- Palo Alto College
  - Co-PD: Ty Chumbley
- College of the Sequoias
  - Co-PDs: Russell McKeith and Dr. Louann Waldner
- South Texas College
  - Co-PD: Dr. Thomas Ndolo and Sandra Espinoza

2023 Locations

Upcoming Events

Fall 2024 Applications Are Now Available

Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (October 4, 2024; Location TBD)

Past Events

Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (September 20, 2017; 5:00-7:30pm; Kleberg Ag Rm 102)
UAS students are enrolled in classes for Drones (Fall 2017)
START NOW students traveled to Costa Rica for a Workshop at TAMU Soltis Center (June 19th-July 2nd, 2017)
Summer Career Experience (Internship) Presentations open to public (September 13, 2016; 5:00-7:00pm; Kleberg Ag Rm 122)

GO START NOW

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Andrea Esqueda--Costa Rica

Melanie Munoz--Costa Rica

Elyana Ruiz--Costa Rica

Ashlin Scott-Vasquez--Costa Rica

Melissa Trujillo--Costa Rica

AgriCULTURE

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Charis Falcon - Puerto Rico

Aliyah Garrido - Puerto Rico

Mireya Lopez - Puerto Rico

Analysa Munoz--Puerto Rico

Rhianna Steelhammer - Puerto Rico

Manuel Villanueva - Puerto Rico

Kayla Villarreal - Puerto Rico

Esperanza Zambrano - Puerto Rico

USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Career Development Program)

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Alexa Bolivar

Jose Buentello

Kyce Cochran

Juan Garza

Pedro Garza

Megan Guerra

Carlos Hurtado, Jr.

Emily Lane

Irma Munoz

Carli Rotondi

M-SPEAL

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Erik Velazquez - Premont, TX

Myrka Gonzalez - Sinton, TX

Brianna Gonzalez - Sinton, TX

Nayery Rocha - Mission, TX

Aaliyah Garcia - Colombia, South America

Mariangels Gonzalez - Colombia, South America

Julia Warren - Colombia, South America

Caitlin Willson - Colombia, South America

Drone Wave FACTOR

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Belinda Arnero

Kristen Rocha

Elyana Ruiz

McKayla Valdez

Connecting the Dots

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Sean Booth - Mexico

Roberto Cavazos - Mexico

Emily-Rubene De Leon - Mexico

Phillip Del Moral - Mexico

Jasmin Esparza - Mexico

Kayleen Garcia - Mexico

Taylor Hood - Mexico

Isabel Lopez - Mexico

Guillermo Medina - Mexico

Reilly Smith - Mexico

100K Strong in the Americas

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - Brazil

Eva Morgan - Brazil

Gabriella Ruiz - Brazil

MEAT'S Workforce

Student Name - Career Experience Location

Elissa Bars - Beef & Bones

Nathan Contreras - Moody's Meats

Edgar Cortez - Beef & Bones

Joseph Cruz - 2F Akaushi Beef

Rosemarie Gutierrez - Beef & Bones

Rene Herrera - Dan's Processing

Jazmin Juarez - Buckhead Meats

Skyland Kepsel - Beef & Bones

Samantha Lansford - Meat Lab

Armando Moreno - Vera King O Meats

Alejandra Pena-Davila - Cuatro Hermanos Meat Market

Desiree Rosales - 2F Akaushi Beef

Shelby Wright - Not For Sale Processing

GO START NOW

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - NRCS BEnavides, TX

Edgar Cortez - NRCS Laredo, TX

Rene Herrera - APHIS Laredo, TX

Julianna Leal - FSA San Benito, TX

2022: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Mathew Cantu - Costa Rica

Edgar Cortez - Costa Rica

Julianna Leal - Costa Rica

Alejandra Pena-Davila - Costa Rica

Clarissa Villareal - Costa Rica

AgriCULTURE

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Dalenisa Coronado - Puerto Rico

Gene Espinoza - Puerto Rico

Madison Kromer - Puerto Rico

Nelly Nunez--Puerto Rico

Jeanette Ortiz - Puerto Rico

Leah Ortiz - Puerto Rico

Nicole Trevino - Puerto Rico

Allison Valdez - Puerto Rico

Briceida Valencia--Puerto Rico

Jonathan Vera - Puerto Rico

2022: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Geovanna Cavazos - Puerto Rico

Faith Escamilla - Puerto Rico

Adan Martinez - Puerto Rico

Mia Martinez - Puerto Rico

Eva Morgan - Puerto Rico

2021: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Victoria Benavides - Puerto Rico

William Gallant - Puerto Rico

Alezander Meza - Puerto Rico

Samuel Munoz - Puerto Rico

Hanna Sorenson - Puerto Rico

USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Career Development Program)

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Austin Barrios - Decatur, TX

Lizette Canales-Gutierrez - Alma, NE

Omar Chavarria - Flagstaff, AZ

Kylie Diaz - Las Cruces, NM

Melivia Mujica - Corpus Christi, TX

Alejandra Pena-Davila - Logan, UT

Angela Ramirez - Angleton, TX

Carolina Salinas - Benavides, TX

Reanna Santos - Fort Collins, CO

William Stephens - Alva, OK

Jose Trejo - Pierre, SD

Clarissa Villareal - Aberdeen, SD

Maeli Caudillo - Puerto Rico & Texas

Abigail Flores - Puerto Rico & Texas

Theresa Hernandez - Puerto Rico & Texas

Andrew Mendiola - Puerto Rico & Texas

Angela Ramirez - Puerto Rico & Texas

Stephanie Sedillo - Puerto Rico & Texas

Cullen James Taylor - Texas

Amberly Zaragosa - Puerto Rico & Texas

Jasmin Esparza - California

Shayla Haiflich - California

Clarissa Saenz - California

Deanira Vela - California

2022: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Gabriel Aguilar - Curtis, NE

Josie Chapa - Lola, KS

Elias Cortez - Dakota City, NE

Krystal Lopez-Washburn - Marion, KS

Leslie Raya - Richland Center, WI

Emily Rubene de Leon - Lincoln, NE

Suzanne Torres - Clinton, TN

Javier Segovia - Mandan, ND

Erik Zamora - Wibaux, MT

Amberly Zaragoza - Sergeant Bluff, IA

2021: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Gabriel Aguilar - Puerto Rico & Texas

Oscar Cardona - Puerto Rico & Texas

Josie Chapa - Puerto Rico & Texas

Dakota Moberg - Puerto Rico & Texas

Erick Zamora - Puerto Rico & Texas

2019: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Justin Briones - Columbia, MO

Kristina Cardenas - Davis, CA

Adam Fonner - Russell, KS

Tessa Green - Holdrege, KS

Jennifer Mendez - Beaver, OK

Mercedes Ortega - Concordia, KS

Ayla Rangel - St. Peters, MO

Yolanda Reyes - Logan, UT

Nathan Young - Sheridan, WY

Carlos Cavazos - Puerto Rico & Texas

Tori Davis - Puerto Rico & Texas

Tenley Housler - Puerto Rico & Texas

Alexander Meza - Puerto Rico & Texas

Derek Solis - Puerto Rico & Texas

2018: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Julia Burchsted - Kirksville, MO

Scott Cardenas - Columbia, MO

Rae Deherrera - Logan, UT

Isabella Farias - Sioux City, IA

Miranda Farias - Boise, ID

Gilberto Hurtado - Afton, WY

Taylor McKinney - Liberal, KS

Travis Opiela - Scottsbluff, NE

Erika Rodriguez - Casper, WY

Adrianne Sullivan - Cherokee, OK

2017: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Lazaro Bazaldua - Riverton, WY

David Campbell--Many, LA

Victoria Gutierrez - Tremonton, UT

Cassidy Hoyle - Columbia, MO

Sandra Reyes - Holdrege, NE

Doss Summers - Boise, ID

M-SPEAL

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Erik Velazquez - Premont, TX

Myrka Gonzalez - Sinton, TX

Brianna Gonzalez - Sinton, TX

Nayery Rocha - Mission, TX

Aaliyah Garcia - Colombia, South America

Mariangels Gonzalez - Colombia, South America

Julia Warren - Colombia, South America

Caitlin Willson - Colombia, South America

2022: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Aaliyah Garcia - Premont, TX

Mary Godfrey - Sinton, TX

Mariangels Gonzalez - Brenham, TX

Julia Warren - Falfurrias, TX

Caitlin Wilson - Premont, TX

Margarita Aguero - Colombia, South America

Brianna Gonzalez - Colombia, South America

Myrka Gonzalez - Colombia, South America

Nayery Rocha - Colombia, South America

Erik Velazquez - Colombia, South America

Drone WAVE FACTOR

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Cynthia Martinez - Temple, TX

Rosemarie Odvina - Corpus Christi, TX

Miranda Shaffer - Temple, TX

Angelica Sosa - Corpus Christi and Beeville, TX

Julia Warren - Kingsville

2022: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Sasha Arias - Kingsville, TX

Jessica Johnston - Kingsville, TX

Jessica Rogers - Kingsville, TX

Kimberly Tanguma - Kingsville, TX

Vianka Trevino - Kingsville, TX

Connecting the Dots

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jose Buentello - Mexico

Kayla Garza - Mexico

Sarah Godwin - Mexico

Seth Kuby - Mexico

Carolina Munoz - Mexico

Taylor Nelson - Mexico

Emilio Ramos - Mexico

Marissa Trevino - Mexico

Zuleyma Zometa - Mexico

100K Strong in the Americas

2023: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Abraham Alvarez - Brazil

Eva Morgan - Brazil

Gabriella Ruiz - Brazil

START NOW

2021: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jocelinne Benavidez - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX

Arianna Cantu - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX

Victor Castorena - Costa Rica & Weslaco, TX

Autumn Coronado - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX

Leylani Garcia - Costa Rica & TX

Sabrina Garza - Costa Rica & Weslaco, TX

Zoelina Gonzalez - Costa Rica & TX

Alexander Meza - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX

Victoria Mossman-Fuentes - Costa Rica & Edinburg, TX

Hanna Sorenson - Costa Rica & Kingsville, TX

Lindsey Howard - Kingsville, TX

John Herschberger - Kingsville, TX

Gina Merzbacher - Kingsville, TX

Eve Schrader - Namibia, Africa

2019: Student Name - Career Experience Locatoin

Annalysa Camacho - Costa Rica & Montana

Cristina Castellano - Beltsville, MD

Cynthia Covarrubias - Laredo, TX

Desiderio De Leon - Costa Rica & Montana

Leslie Dominguez - Laredo, TX

Julio Menchaca - Uvalde, TX

Ashley Mondragon - Rosenberg, TX

Jonah Trevino - Kingsville, TX

Allison Watts - Costa Rica & Montana

2018: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Leslie Dominguez - Costa Rica

Michaela Elber - Beltsville, MD

Christopher Flores-Lopez - Costa Rica

Michael Gonzales - Houston, TX

Zachary Hamaker - Washington, D.C.

Ashley Mondragon - Costa Rica

Gudalupe Rodriguez - Robstown, TX

Nikki Sandigde - Kerville, TX

Jonah Trevino - Washington, D.C.

2017: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Weston Burns - Costa Rica

Gerardo Mata - Laredo, TX

Elisha Palomo - Rosenberg, TX

Cynthia Puente - Costa Rica

Valerie Ruiz - Eagle Pass, TX

Jonah Trevino - Costa Rica

UAS

2021: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Carlos Hurtado - Corpus Christi, TX

William McCollum - Corpus Christi, TX

Clayton Moore - Corpus Christi, TX

Daniel Ramirez - Corpus Christi, TX

Larry Santos - Corpus Christi, TX

Elizabeth Solano - Weslaco, TX

Hector Soto - Corpus Christi, TX

Daniela Urbano - Corpus Christi, TX

2019: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Hunter Carroll - Fort Worth, TX

Virgilio Gomez - Corpus Christi, TX

Jesus Lopez - Weslaco, TX

Victoria Trevino - Weslaco, TX

2018: Student Name - Career Experience Location

David Esparza - Corpus Christi, TX

Julio Gutierrez - Corpus Christi, TX

Michael Page - Dallas, TX

Elsa Wiley - Weslaco, TX

2017: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Eutimio Alaniz - Corpus Christi, TX

Christopher Flores-Lopez - Weslaco, TX

Christina Lee - Corpus Christi, TX

Guadalupe Rodriguez - Corpus Christi, TX

George Thomas III - Beltsville, MD

STEP 2

2019: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Mark Belew - Kingsville, TX

Robin Cheek - Clay Center, NE

Andrea Companian - Clay Center, NE

Jason Loghry - Alaska

Gisel Mireles - Beltsville, MD

Cailin Wong-Jaramillo - Beltsville, MD

Rory Vineyard - Kingsville, TX

2018: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Miguel Cervantes - Clay Center, NE

Su-yin Davison - Caracal, Botswana

Cody Hay - Texas

Recca Heiner - Carcal, Botswana

Richard Kaiser - Caracal, Botswana

Nina Lazaro - Kingsville, TX

Valerie Ruiz - Beltsville, MD

Miranda Tellez - Fort Collins, CO

2017: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Jorge Chavarria - Beltsville, MD

Arlene Cortez - Fort Collins, CO

Dominique Hernandez - Beltsville, MD

Kole Jean - Fayetteville, TN

Miriam Rico - Beltsville, MD

WHEELS OF CHANGE

2019: Student Name - Career Experience Location

Arianna Cantu - Linn, TX

Nora Carrillo - Beltsville, MD

Shelby Davis - Victoria, TX

Juan Elissetche - Alamo, TX

Gabriela Garcia - Port La Vaca, TX

Daisy Gonzalez - Puerto Rico

Richard Hernandez - Weslaco, TX

Kaitlyn Hessek - Pilot Point, TX

Autum Hooker - Namibia, Africa

Bradley Johnston - Corvallis, OR

Kayla Milam - Laredo, TX

Leanna Morin - Corvallis, OR

Daniela Nieves - Beltsville, MD

Pablo Ramos - Corpus Christi, TX

Isabel Valdez - Taft, TX

2018: Student Names - Career Experience Location

Jeanette Casanova - Weslaco, TX

Crisantos Casares - Weslaco, TX

Jacqueline Cruz - Kingsville, TX

Kendrah De Leon - Beltsville, MD

Guadalupe Garza - Lexington, NE

Matthew Garza - Weslaco, TX

Joe Gonzalez - Fort Collings, CO & Vermont

Nathanael Hernandez - Galveston, TX

Hyden Kovar - Fort Collins, CO

Lupita Leon - Taft, TX

Marco Urive - Texas

Loerena Villanueva - Beltsville, MD

2017: Student Names - Career Experience Location

Alexandrea Almazan - Beltsville, MD

Andrea Castillo - New Braunfels, TX

Hallie Davis - Raymondville, TX

Ashley De La Torre - Beltsville, MD

Gabriella Garcia - Florida

Perla Liscano - Austin, TX

Raelene Mendez - Weslaco, TX

Kassandra Montes - Edinburg, TX

Spencer Smith - Robstown, TX

Dagan Teague - Weslaco, TX

Matthew Townsend - Kingsville, TX

Shelbie van Beveren - Scandia, MN

Fall 2024 Application--Microsoft Forms