Clay Eastwood receives SMIKids Scholarship

Clay Eastwood, a Meat Science graduate student from New Braunfels, Texas, is this year’s graduate recipient of the SMIKids Scholarship. Clay was presented the scholarship at the 61st Annual Southwest Meat Association Convention and Supplier’s Showcase held at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, San Antonio, Texas on July 19-22, 2017. The SMIKids Scholarships are given by the Burley Smith family to undergraduate and graduate students at Texas A&M University interested in the meat industry.

Clay received both her Bachelor’s degree (2011) and Master’s degree (2014) in Animal Science from Texas A&M University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. focusing on fresh meat quality, food safety, and sustainability under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Savell and Dr. Kerri Gehring in the Meat Science Section of the Department of Animal Science. Clay also received the SMA Foundation scholarship at the convention.

Clay received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2014, Clay received two graduate student awards: the Ronnie L. Edwards Graduate Student Teaching Award, in recognition of her important contributions as a graduate student to the undergraduate student experience, and the Z. L. Carpenter Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Meat Science, presented annually to a graduate student who demonstrates outstanding leadership skills and has contributed significantly to the Meat Science Section’s teaching, research, and extension activities. Most recently, Clay received the Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Graduate Teaching.

Congratulations to Clay for receiving this scholarship.