WHO IS BLAKE VAN DER KAMP? Blake Van Der Kamp is currently enrolled at Iowa State University as a fourth-year student majoring in Agricultural Education with a Communications Emphasis, International Agriculture, and Public Relations with a certificate in Leadership Studies. While in college as a honors and first generation student, he has had the privilege of being a Cargill Thrive, George Washington Carver, and Ronald E. McNair Scholar.
Before coming to Iowa State University, he attended the PCM High School in Monroe, Iowa and graduated at the top of his class with honors. Additionally, Blake's efforts within high school and Career Technical Education courses presented him with the distinct honor of being named a United States Presidential Scholar by the nation's Department of Education. While pursing his academic endeavors, Blake has also strived to develop an extensive professional portfolio within the communications, education, and photography. Through these pursuits, he has gained six years of social media coordination and marketing-related experience as well as an ability for public speaking. He has also undergone over 250 hours of classroom observations, facilitated nearly a thousand leadership-based workshops, and served as a non-profit board representative for 16,400 youth members. Blake's professional goal is to utilize strategic communications within global society to promote agricultural literacy, humanitarian-related affairs, and sustainability effectively. |
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Photo Courtesy of the United States Farmer & Ranchers in Action (USFRA)
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HIGHLIGHTED LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES - Directed discussion as a Key Leaders & NextGen Farmers Panelist for the 2022 U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action Honor The Harvest Forum
- Served as Vice President of Ceremonies for the Iowa State University's most prestigious honor society, Cardinal Key - Communicated as the Public Relations Chair for the Order of Omega, one of the ISU Sorority & Fraternity Community's highest honor societies - Liaised as Director of Sustainability on the ISU Student Government & on the President-appointed University Sustainability Committee - Global Bayer Youth Ag Summit Attendee & 2021 Delegate |
HIGHLIGHTED AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS- Order of Pythagoras Recipient from the Intl. Council of the Acacia Fraternity
- Inducted into ISU's most prestigious honor society, Cardinal Key, in 2022 - Accepted as a member in 2022 for the Order of Omega Honor Society - ISU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs 2022 Rising Star Award Recipient - 2021 Honorary Diamond Trail Chapter FFA Degree Recipient - 2020 U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholar Awardee in C.T.E - Prairie City Monroe High School Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 |
Photo Courtesy of TPCreations
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Photo Courtesy of the International Acacia Fraternity