IMG_5671_1
Spore Members at Social Gathering

Student Phytopathological Organization for Research and Education)

The Student Phytopathological Organization for Research and Education (SPORE) serves as a network of support for Plant Pathology­­ students in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.

In addition to being a resource for students within plant pathology, SPORE organizes events with students from other areas of study in PSM. The multi-faceted organization works as a tool to help new graduate students meet other students in their college and to introduce them to students in other labs.

“Recently, [SPORE’s goal] has been to help the plant pathology graduate students in different labs get to know each other,” Irene Donne, vegetable pathology graduate student said.

For Donne, going to the SPORE social events before starting her program helped her get acquainted with other people in her lab and other labs.

The members of SPORE have a variety of activities for students and faculty to take part in—past activities have included bowling, annual picnic and poster session, a Pi Day party, Weenie roast (hot dog roast) and a pumpkin sale. With most of the plant pathology students in SPORE, social events typically average 10 to 20 students.

Every fall, SPORE members organize their largest event during the annual pumpkin sale in an effort to fundraise for PSM. Another effort to fundraise for SPORE is to sell Plant Pathology designed T-shirts. Usually graduate students, faculty and their families purchase T-shirts and support SPORE.

The student-faculty relationship has been another essential part of the student organization. SPORE members meet with PSM professors to ensure there is communication between students and teachers. Graduate students’ main topic of discussion with faculty is over scheduling courses. SPORE works with the faculty to organize classes in a way that works best for its students.

“There’s only a set amount of time we have to take classes,” Steere said.

President: Austin McCoy
Vice President: Jill Check
Secretary: Samantha Thompson
Treasurer: Nikki Lukasko
Student Senate & DEI Rep: Alex Hernandez (alternate for COGS: Jill Check)
Advisor: Ray Hammerschmidt

Social Event Planner: Becky Harkness

SPORE facebook page