Mac student awarded prestigious Seed Science Foundation scholarship
Please join us in congratulating Henry Alexander Cordoba Novoa, Ph.D. candidate in plant breeding and genetics at McGill University's Macdonald Campus, on receiving the Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Seed Science Foundation at the American Seed Trade Association Leadership Summit held in Nashville, TN on June 15–19, 2024. This award recognizes Henry's outstanding research, integrity, and professionalism and his passion for the future of agriculture and the seed industry.
Since his undergraduate studies, Henry's academic journey has been influenced by multiple disciplines from agronomy, plant physiology and soil microbiology to molecular biology and genetics.
Under the supervision of Professor Valerio Hoyos-Villegas at the Pulse Breeding and Genetics Laboratory, Henry is researching the genomic landscape of deleterious alleles and complex traits in plants to accelerate the breeding process and make the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) more adaptable to climate change conditions.
“The happiness of excellence comes from falling in love with the process of reaching our goals, and that is exactly what I enjoy the most. As a first-generation student in science, I have learned to embrace challenges and exploit them to create opportunities to establish my path to my doctoral studies and to become a leader and a mentor in plant science,” says Henry. “Over my academic and professional journey, I realized that excelling in my goals was part of who I am, and my tool to make a difference for my family and society.”
Earlier this year, Henry was also awarded the Macdonald Campus Gold Key Award, recognizing his meaningful involvement on campus and contributions to student life in the Macdonald Community.
About the Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship
The Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship was established by the American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF)—now known as the Seed Science Foundation—to honor and remember Dr. Roger Krueger, a long-time ASRF board member dedicated to enabling agriculture to better feed the world. Dr. Krueger took a special interest in mentoring the student participants in American Seed Trade Association programs and never missed an opportunity to challenge them. The scholarship is to acknowledge students who have shown a passion for agriculture and the future of the seed industry, recognizing Dr. Krueger's life, work and willingness to teach and mentor by supporting the future of seeds. As part of the scholarship, the student attends either the Vegetables and Flowers or the Row Crops conference in the US, and the Leadership Summit, where the awarding ceremony takes place. This is an opportunity to connect with leaders in the seed trade industry in North America and the world.