Davis College
News/Events

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be featuring Davis College students who were named 2009-10 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors. The College was fortunate to have six bright and talented students named to the prestigious list – Becky Berkebile, agricultural and extension education; Kari Brown, agricultural and extension education; Nina Chase, landscape architecture; Maria Dalzot, human nutrition and foods; Andrea Garton, animal and nutritional sciences; and Melissa Stevens, forest resources management.

Becky L. Berkebile

Becky Berkebile believes in many ways experience is the best teacher. She is an agricultural and extension education major from Accident, Md., who one day envisions herself as an agriculture education instructor. As member of Collegiate Farm Bureau, Berkebile represented the chapter at numerous meetings and conferences, including the 2010 National Young Farmers and Ranchers retreat in Tulsa, Okla., where she participated in the annual collegiate discussion meet. She is also a member of Alpha Tau Alpha, WVU Livestock Judging Team, and Mountaineer Collegiate FFA. Academically, she was named to the President’s and Dean’s List, and received an American FFA Degree, an Animal Evaluation Scholarship, and a Garrett County Farm Bureau Scholarship.

Describe your time at WVU
Words cannot begin to describe the wonderful experience I have had as an undergraduate student at West Virginia University. First of all, WVU has given me a high quality education for a reasonable price. WVU students get their “money’s worth” and then some. This is a university that prides itself on things such as contagious school spirit, high quality education, and a safe environment to do this in. I have achieved academic success during my time spent here, but that is not the only success I have achieved. I have been given the opportunity to grow and mature into a young adult who is prepared to enter the workforce. Along the way I have met many amazing and influential people who have made an impact on my life. But most importantly, I have developed so many friendships which will last me a lifetime. When I leave WVU I will have a cabinet packed full of memories that can never be replaced. No matter where life takes me, or what state I end up in I will always have the memories, knowledge, and skills which I acquired during my time at WVU. When it comes down to it these experiences will far outlast the one bad test score that each and every student dreads will haunt them for the rest of their lives. These are the experiences that are irreplaceable and I am delighted to say that I was a student at West Virginia University.

What collegiate experience did you find most fulfilling?
Over my college career I have been blessed with many fulfilling experiences, however, if I were to pick one it would be a tie between my involvement with the Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter and the WVU Livestock Judging Team.

Who at WVU had a positive influence on you? What did you learn from them?
My professors have had a very positive influence on me. They have given me a multitude of knowledge as well as advice on simple things relating to school and my future career options. I have been exposed to many teaching styles, some good some not, but all of them will help to make me a better teacher in the future.

Why do you feel community involvement is important?
To start things off, community involvement is very rewarding to all parties that are involved. You are given the chance to make an impact on the people around you whether it is through volunteer work or educational activities. Secondly, community involvement helps to build a support system. The people who are involved are the people who will come out and support the youth, elderly, and individuals in a community. They are the people that keep small towns and large cities all over this country running. Lastly, they are the people that will be there to lend others a helping hand when it is need.

What advice would you give future students?
Work hard to achieve your goals, but have fun while doing it. You only get to have this experience once so make as many memories as possible.

What are your plans after graduation?
In the future I want to become an Agricultural Education Instructor at a local high school. I believe that the population is undereducated about where their food comes from. I want to be an advocate for the industry and I believe the best way to do this is to contribute in educating the people of this country. Someday I would also like to operate my own family farm with the help of a loving husband and children.