Graduates from the program, current students, faculty members and their families had much to be thankful for at this year's Thanksgiving Celebration of the Master's of International Agriculture Program at Oklahoma State University.

Housed in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, MIAP is a multidisciplinary program with 60 graduate students currently enrolled, including several active military duty and distance students.

More than 40 members of the group recently gathered at the Cottonwood Community Center in Stillwater for the annual Thanksgiving dinner, an event cosponsored by MIAP and the Student Organization for International Agriculture.

"I am so proud of being a part of such an outstanding organization. The entire SOIA team has worked so hard to pull this activity together," said Abbi Goldenberg, SOIA president and MIAP student. "It was nice to see such a great turnout to give thanks for what we have here at OSU. Oklahoma State University has always been near and dear to my heart, and I hope to make SOIA a prominent organization within CASNR."

Since the program's inception in 2008, 85 students have graduated. Dr. Shida Henneberry, MIAP director, attributes the program's success to its focus areas, including agritourism, disaster planning/management, sustainability, Extension outreach, food animals and commercial crops.

MIAP also offers a dual degree program with a university in Puebla, Mexico (UPAEP), where students complete one year of coursework at OSU and another year at UPAEP and receive two master's degrees, one from OSU and one from UPAEP.

"The UPAEP-OSU Dual Degree Master's Program has been the perfect setting to drive and upgrade my career," said Claudia P. Diaz Carrasco, MIAP-UPAEP dual-degree student. "The flexibility of the program and the different focus areas of MIAP have allowed me to interact with experts in several fields all over CASNR. At the same time, I am improving my English skills and learning about the American culture."

MIAP prides itself on offering a course plan tailored to each student's future career goals.

"With all of the students in the program having set up an individualized program, we don't have a chance to meet up and socialize," said Britney Lardner, MIAP student and SOIA representative. "Here at this Thanksgiving table, we get a chance to meet, engage in fellowship and learn from classmates and professors who all share a common passion and love for agriculture and the development of international Extension through OSU."

Henneberry is thankful for the quality of students she sees coming through MIAP.

"I find working with MIAP students very rewarding. Our students are very passionate about helping with agricultural development and improving food supply and marketing systems in other countries," she said. They are also devoted to their studies here at OSU. I hear so many positive comments about our students from other professors who have them in their classes, and the employees of our alumni."