Olivia Duncan, a senior majoring in agriculture-agronomy at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, was recently awarded a $2,500 scholarship from the Arkansas Rice Council.
Duncan, originally from Marianna, works as an intern for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service at the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart.
Duncan said her interest in agriculture goes back to her childhood. She believes she inherited the passion for agriculture from her family members.
“As far back as I can remember, my mother would grow a garden in her backyard,” she said in a news release. “This was a regular activity that I grew to enjoy over the years. In the summers during my teen years, I would also help my uncle on his hog farm.”
With the gardening and farming skills gained from her relatives, in addition to the knowledge garnered from working at the Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center as a biological science technician, she hopes to someday become a plant breeder and develop her own plant patent. After graduation, she plans to go back to UAPB and obtain a master’s degree in agricultural regulations.
“I am very proud of Olivia’s accomplishments,” said Tracy V. Dunbar, chair of UAPB’s Department of Agriculture. “This is the type of experience I am hoping for all students in the department. I want them to be exposed to internship opportunities early, graduate and go on to a permanent position or graduate school. I want them to be happy in the career they choose and with their experience at UAPB.”