** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION SETTINGS CHOOSING CAREERS IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SCIENCES CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, STATES, AND THE NATION. INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS TO BRIDGE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL GAPS PRESENT IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS BY CREATING LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH EXPERT MENTORS MAY IMPACT CAREER SUCCESS IN A POSITIVE WAY. THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON DEVELOPMENT OF PARTICIPANTS THROUGH EXPERT MENTORS, INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC. PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TOWARD RESEARCH, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNICATION PRACTICES APPROPRIATE IN SOCIETY.IN NEW MEXICO THERE ARE 13 EXPERIMENT STATIONS LOCATED ACROSS 33 COUNTIES WHERE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT SPECIFIC RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES. WORKING WITH THEIR EXPERT MENTORS, PARTICIPANTS WILL DEVELOP A RESEARCH FOCUS AREA, CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN WITH FACULTY EXPERTS. THE ABILITIES AND SKILLS GAINED FROM STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE INCREASED TOWARDS THEIR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IT TO THE PUBLIC. AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, AN INCREASE IN HISPANIC AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENT GRADUATES EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND HOLD GREATER COMMUNICATION SKILLS.