Student Connections is a program hosted by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the Seed Science Foundation (SSF) through the Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) Committee. This opportunity was created to provide networking opportunities with industry mentors, executives, and thought leaders for university students who are interested in pursuing careers in the seed industry.
Selected students will have the opportunity to engage in educational opportunities before and during the Leadership Summit, and will leave as strong collegiate ambassadors for the seed industry on their respective campuses. Program participants will travel to ASTA’s Leadership Summit.
Student Connections Testimonials
“It was a wonderful experience meeting new people, building connections, and contributing to the effort of connecting voices from the seed industry to legislation. I’m truly honored to have been part of the Student Connections Program.” – Parul Mandal, Kansas State University, 2025
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to join this year’s program. This is the most productive meeting of the year for me in terms of expositions and insights to current challenges facing the U.S. seed industry and networking opportunities.” – O. Joshua Oyekanmi, The University of Arizona, 2025
“I had such a great time meeting all the ASTA members! They were all so friendly, and it was interesting hearing about their careers.” – Audrey Pelikan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2025
“Thank you so much for having us during the ASTA Leadership Summit. It was an incredible opportunity to meet and connect with ASTA and industry experts. We learned a lot in a short time.” – Olivier Ndayiramije, Washington State University, 2024
“I had an enjoyable time and gained many valuable experiences at the Leadership Summit. Thank you for a memorable conference!” – Thi Nguyen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023