By Kristen Graas

The Smith Center is pleased to announce that this year’s UTIA International Showcase surpassed all expectations. The Volunteer community’s support for international agriculture was felt through the constant stream of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends that attended.  

Overall, we estimate that the total attendance was over 250 people. Students learned about study abroad opportunities from recurring courses like the  Glorious Gardens in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Small Animal Veterinary Experience in Belize, and Plants, Parks, and People in Costa Rica to our debut programs such as Tropical Fishes in Mexico, One Health in Japan, and Food, Culture, and Sustainability in Greece.  

Friends of the Smith Center made their impact as well, giving members of the UTIA community an insight into the reach global agriculture can have. ECHO, Peace Corps Prep, and the Center for Global Engagement focused on encouraging global interactions and exchange while Fulbright, Academy for Global Scholars, and the International Agriculture Minor allowed students to see the academic opportunities and implications of UTIA’s global mission.  

Our team is grateful for another year of engaging the community in global agriculture through the UTIA International Showcase, and we appreciate those who partnered with us to make the event such a success!