Every month we like to highlight students that have gone above and
beyond in the Agriculture Education department! In September, we are proud to
share the stories and accomplishments of Mr. Matthew (Matt) Snyder!
M - Mentor
A - Agriculturalist
T - Thoughtful
T – Tagged
Four words that describe the qualities
and characteristics of Matt Snyder. Matt has exuded these traits through his #TeachAg journey! But how?
Matt is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education, and will
be a 2018 Student Teacher at Mifflinburg High School this Spring. A native of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Matt grew up an agriculturalist. Involvement
on his family’s swine operation ignited his passion for agriculture . Matt was able
to expand his knowledge and involvement in the agricultural industry by participating
in organizations such as 4-H and FFA. His engagement in these
organizations provided him the opportunity to
mentor younger members and help guide them in project areas such as
swine production. These experiences helped Matt realize he enjoyed helping youth engage and expand their knowledge in topics he was most passionate
about.
Although Matt had a passion for agriculture, he was also enthusiastic about numbers. Matt began his post-secondary education experience at West Virginia
Wesleyan College; studying Mathematics Education on a scholarship to play
football. However not long into the journey, he discovered his heart and
interests were still in agriculture. After attending West Virginia Wesleyan
College for a year, Matt made the decision to forgo his football scholarship and return home to pursue his interest in agricultural education. The Fall of his
Sophomore year, Matt transferred to the Pennsylvania State University. His involvement
in the major and agricultural education department has grown throughout his Penn State journey. Matt is
a member of the Teach Ag! Society, and has participated in many club events, such as: 2016 Domestic Study Away and Thunder Run. Matt was named the 2016 Outstanding
Student of the Year for Penn State's Agricultural Education Program. He received this honor because his work ethic is described
as thoughtful and enthusiastic for
everything he does in his pursuit to become an effective educator. “I want to provide today’s youth with a positive influence through
school based agricultural education.” Matt has been tagged to Teach Ag! We are excited to see the effect and impact he
will leave on his future students.
Want to know some
fun facts about Matt? Check them out below!
Hometown: Brockway, PA
Favorite PSU Class: AEE 349
Favorite Place to Eat in State College: Otto’s or Champs
Favorite hangout on Campus: Ferguson 007 (Student Teacher
Office)
If you would like to read more about Matt, connect with him via Twitter: @snyder6878
To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog.
Halee Wasson
Student Blogger
Twitter Handle: @wasson_halee
2018 Agriculture Education Student Teacher
Congrats, Matt! Your desire to pursue ag ed is inspiring! I'm sure that will reflect well with your students in the spring!
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