The fourth 14-student cohort graduated from the Matador Institute of Leadership Engagement during a ceremony on Friday, May 9, held at Texas Tech University’s historic Dairy Barn facility. Each graduate received the MILE Program’s unique medal signifying their completion of the program.
The MILE Program is a three-semester professional and leadership development program for selected undergraduate students in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech. The goal of the program is to produce a pipeline of young, qualified leaders who understand the big picture issues and challenges facing agriculture. The program uses high-impact learning experiences in the form of regional agriculture tours, trips to Washington, D.C. and Austin, and workshops to expose these students to all facets of Texas agriculture. We also use professional development seminars to produce well-rounded leaders who can advocate and communicate effectively.
Lindsay Kennedy, Ph.D., the Patti Peck Wood Endowed MILE program director, said the latest cohort to complete the MILE Program will enter the workforce prepared to take on the challenges facing the agriculture industry.
“Being a part of this program comes with a great responsibility, and each of these 14 graduates now has a job to do,” Kennedy said during the May 9 ceremony. “The individuals and organizations who have invested their time and resources in our students did so because they need something in return; they need our students to use the tools and experiences you have been given to make a difference in our industry.”
In addition to the 14 students who graduated from the MILE Program on Friday, May 9, three awards were given to recognize outstanding support of the program.
Kaylynn Kerns received the first Outstanding MILE Alumni Award. Kerns was a member of the first MILE cohort in 2018-2019 and was a 2019 animal science graduate from Texas Tech. As a student in the Department of Animal and Food Science, Kerns served as student recruiter and president of Ag Council. After graduating, Kerns has worked for Elanco Animal Health in two roles, and she now works for Merck Animal Health in marketing as a senior brand manager in Kansas City.
“Kaylynn is a wonderful representative of what the MILE Program is all about,” Kennedy said. “She has remained engaged with the program, volunteering her time during the cohort selection process and offering her support to provide opportunities for the MILE students following in her footsteps.”
Mike Simpson received the MILE Excellence in Leadership Award, which is given to an individual who has personally gone above and beyond to support the MILE Program. This award has been awarded during each MILE graduation ceremony since the program’s inception. Simpson is a 1975 animal science graduate from Texas Tech, a distinguished alumni award recipient from the college in 2015, an animal science department hall of fame member, and recipient of the 2021 Gerald Thomas Outstanding Agriculturalist for Public Service award. Past recipients of the MILE Excellence in Leadership award are the late Mr. Jim Prewitt in 2019, Tanya Forrester in 2021, and Kayla Robinson in 2023.
“Mike played a special role in the development of the MILE Program when it was created in 2017,” Kennedy said. “He has met with every cohort during their first semester in the program to conduct a workshop on each student’s Insights Profiles and has also been very active in the interview and selection process of all four MILE cohorts. We are grateful for Mike’s vision for what this program could be and his continued service to our students.”
Texas Corn Producers was also honored for their support of the MILE Program. David Gibson, TCP executive director, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Kennedy said industry support is critical to implementing the MILE Program.
“Nearly 100% of the program is funded by the investment of local, state and national industry partners, individuals and organizations who believe in the mission of the MILE Program and the development of future leaders,” she said. “Texas Corn has been a valuable partner as the program seeks to provide career-building opportunities to students in MILE.”
Recruitment and selection for the next cohort of the MILE Program will begin during the fall 2025 semester.
The following students were recognized during the MILE IV graduation ceremony:
Cash Campbell is an Agricultural and Applied Economics major from Idalou, Texas
Paola Castro is an Animal Science major from Brownsville, Texas
McKinley Cobrin is an Animal Science major from Sanger, Texas
Kyndal Edwards is an Animal Science major from Sudan, Texas
Faith Geistweidt is an Agricultural and Applied Economics major from Fredericksburg, Texas
Ryan Hess is an Agricultural Communications major from Stephenville, Texas
Kyra Holt is an Agricultural Communications major from St. John, Washington
Ashlynn Messer is a Food Science major from Lubbock, Texas
Makayla Miles is an Agricultural Education and Agricultural Communications double major from Goldthwaite, Texas
Kollier Miller is a Landscape Architecture major from Panhandle, Texas
Caroline Munson is an Agricultural Communications major from Shallowater, Texas
Madilyn Riley is an Agricultural Communications major from Richards, Texas
Rowly Sandoval is an Animal Sciences major from La Feria, Texas
Kate Sauder is an Agricultural Communications major from Lubbock, Texas
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