Agriculture and Applied Sciences Student to Begin Work for National FFA

Alyssa Chambliss, a student in agricultural education at Utah State University, recently accepted a six-month internship in Indianapolis, Ind., working for National FFA.

“My official title will be career development events intern,” Chambliss said. “I’ll oversee the delivery of materials for all career development events (CDEs) at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky.”

CDEs were developed by National FFA to help students think critically and communicate effectively in the current job market. High school students across the nation compete as individuals or teams in events that range from communications to veterinary medicine.

Chambliss heard about the internship through an announcement on Canvas, an academic Internet program used by the university. After submitting her resume through the FFA website, Chambliss was interviewed twice before being selected for the position.

“The opportunity for Alyssa to work with National FFA will provide her with experience that she cannot get in the classroom,” said Brian Warnick, a professor in the School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education at USU. “Alyssa’s organizational and interpersonal skills, along with her drive and work ethic, make her ideal for the position.”

The internship will give Chambliss a variety of opportunities and responsibilities.

“I will manage and inventory all the materials needed for the contests as well as arrange travel for judges and communicate with state staff from all over the country,” Chambliss said. “I will be developing and managing a Twitter account and possibly a Facebook page to give updates on CDEs and the National FFA convention.”

As part of her internship, Chambliss will work with the National FFA staff and the national adviser Steve Brown before traveling to the National FFA convention in October.

Chambliss believes her involvement with the School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education was instrumental in receiving the internship.

“Every class I have taken within the ASTE Department has prepared me to be a valuable employee while in Indiana,” Chambliss said. “There is no way I would have been considered for this job without having had all the opportunities I have taken advantage of within our department.”

Although she won't graduate until spring 2015, Chambliss is already looking for ways her future students can benefit from her internship.

“The time I spend at the National FFA center will give me a much deeper knowledge and understanding of how career development events are planned and all the finer details that will one day benefit my students as they prepare for national contests,” she said.

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Contact: Taylor Adams, 435-797-7091, taylor.adams@usu.edu