Rooted in Tradition, Growing Through Experience
Name: Grace Pearson
Hometown: Attica, IN
Major & concentrations: Agribusiness (agri marketing) and Agronomy (agronomic business)
Why did you come to Purdue: Both of my parents went to Purdue, so I have always joked that I never had much choice. In reality, I had all of the choices, and the truth is, Purdue was too good of a school in my backyard to pass up!
Favorite Purdue tradition: Grand Prix Week
Top three influences at Purdue:
- Study abroad trips
- CoA faculty
- The friends I have made along the way
Top five memories of your time at Purdue:
- Sledding down Slayter Hill in anything but a sled
- Tailgating at football games with friends
- Midnight pancake breakfast every Grand Prix Week
- Purdue vs. IU, anything! Always makes for a good time and lots of memories
- Working the lemon shakeup stand every year at Ag Week
Places you have been as a Purdue student:
- Italy (Maymester Study Abroad)
- Kansas City, MO (AFA Leaders Conference)
- France (Maymester Study Abroad)
- Mendota, IL (ADM, Commodity Trading Internship)
- Nashville, TN (Sigma Alpha Leadership Seminar)
- Spain and Portugal (Maymester Study Abroad)
- St. Louis, MO (ADM, Account Management Internship)
- Lexington, KY (Sigma Alpha National Conclave)
Favorite club/organization: Sigma Alpha
Favorite student-led event/initiative: Ag Week
Favorite Purdue event: Thursday Farmers Markets in oval
Favorite social activity: Basketball games in Mackey
Favorite place to study: Basement of the Union or ABE building
Favorite place on campus: Horticulture gardens when tulips are blossoming
Favorite thing about CoA: Being around other very like-minded people that I share many of the same passions with.
Favorite class: AGEC 331
Favorite professor: Dr. Lee Schweitzer
Coolest project: AGEC 451 class project with R-Studio
Three biggest accomplishments:
- Double majoring
- Taking opportunities like studying abroad and traveling for internships
- Continually raising my GPA every semester
Things on your resume not listed above: I consider myself a “foodie” and absolutely love trying new foods!
Career goal: Growing up on a farm, I have seen the everyday stressors that farmers are faced with, so, at the end of the day, I want to contribute to their overall livelihood.
Advice for underclassmen: It’s okay to not be on the exact same path as your peers! Do things that you enjoy and that are unique to your own journey.
Biggest takeaway from Purdue: Use your connections; they are rooting for you! It’s amazing what your network can do for you.