Fran tenBensel Benne | Agronomy and Horticulture
University of Nebraska–Lincoln horticulture senior Tran Kim Ngan “Mia” Luong, of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has been named a Chancellor’s Scholar. Luong, along with 10 other Nebraska seniors graduating in December, will be recognized during the undergraduate commencement ceremony Dec. 21 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Chancellor’s Scholars are students who have maintained 4.0 grade-point averages on all collegiate work at Nebraska and elsewhere. A Chancellor’s Scholar is the highest academic honor awarded to graduating undergraduates.
“Mia is an exceptional student in the classroom,” assistant professor and adviser Sam Wortman said. “She is attentive, asks challenging and thoughtful questions, and is confident enough to engage in peer instruction.”
She has also contributed to the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture as a teaching and research assistant. “Mia has demonstrated exceptional resilience through her ability to balance life, work and school,” Wortman said.
Luong feels the people in the department are undeniably her favorite aspect of being a student at the university. “As an international student, it can be challenging being so far away from my family,” she said. “Despite that, the plentiful and broad support from the faculty, staff and students have made it a fulfilling and meaningful journey for me.”
For future students thinking about a career in horticulture, Luong advises them to work hard, stay hungry for knowledge and avoid merely memorizing facts. “The world is always changing, so challenge yourself by thinking critically to increase further understanding of the application and impact of your knowledge,” she said.
As for her future, Luong plans to continue her education in graduate studies at Nebraska to sharpen her skills in science, apply it and contribute to the community.
“My long-term goal is to go back to Vietnam and work together with farmers to help improve our agricultural approaches,” she said.
See a full list of Chancellor’s Scholars at Nebraska Today.
