Cameron Hill will be crossing the stage Dec. 13 with about 200 fellow graduates as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore celebrates its 2024 Winter Commencement. Hill took advantage of the UMES Land-grant Scholarship to make earning a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture a reality.
“If it weren’t for this scholarship, I wouldn’t have gone to college,” said Hill, an aspiring horticulturist.
His interest stemmed from completion of Wicomico County public school’s Career and Technology Education program at Parkside High School. Its horticulture program supplements classroom instruction with hands-on experiences in a greenhouse doubling as a community garden center, which UMES Extension educators have partnered with throughout the years.
Hill built on his interests at UMES, concentrating in plant and soil sciences.
“Cameron’s enthusiasm extends beyond the classroom. His hands-on approach and eagerness to learn make him an invaluable asset to research initiatives, showcasing his versatility in both fieldwork and laboratory experiments,” said Dr. Naveen Kumar Dixit, an associate professor of horticulture and extension specialist at UMES.
Hill is also involved in community outreach, “playing a pivotal role” in pruning and maintaining the community orchard in Fruitland, Maryland.
“Cameron’s primary focus lies in bridging the gap between theory and practice. He is passionate about exploring how scientific knowledge can be translated into practical solutions to support farmers and enhance agricultural productivity,” Dixit said. “His drive, coupled with his collaborative spirit, positions him as a future leader in the field of horticulture, one our program can be proud of.”
Following graduation, Hill hopes to open his own garden center or pursue potential positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture or National Resource Conservation Service that he learned of as a land-grant scholar.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
