Meet Gillian Villa

Expected graduation year: 2025

Home country: Santa Maria, California

Why did you decide to go out of state for college, and what led you to choose K-State?

I’ve been in California my whole life and love the state. The agriculture is so amazing, but I knew there was more out there. When I began my college search, I looked at Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University and several Texas schools. When I visited K-State, their Ag Ambassadors were the sweetest and most genuine students I talked to, and it made K-State seem so welcoming. The great thing about K-State is how prestigious the academics are within the College of Agriculture, how amazing the faculty and staff are, and it offers a wide variety of what you can learn. It also has great opportunities for out-of-state students to come to college at an affordable price.

What was the moment you first felt a sense of “home” at K-State?

I remember moving into Haymaker, and the people at the front desk were so excited and welcoming. I went out onto campus and loved the greenery, the beauty of the campus and the history behind the buildings. When making my decision on which college to attend, something really important for me was to be somewhere grounded in nature.

Can you explain what Ag Ambassadors is and describe your role within the organization?

Ag Ambassadors is a group of students who are the face of the college and help connect prospective, new and current students to the college and show all it has to offer. Life can get busy, and sometimes students may lose sight of their original goals, so we work to reconnect them with the reasons they chose K-State. Ag Ambassadors take pride in recruiting new students. I came to K-State because of a previous Ag Ambassador, so I see the importance of that connection.

What led you to choose agriculture as a career?

I was involved in FFA in high school, but had intentions of going pre-med. The more I worked in FFA and learned about the growers in my community, the more I fell in love with the farmers, ranchers and the passion everyone has in agriculture. There are a lot of challenges farmers and ranchers face, but everyone takes pride in their work, and I found that to be important.

What advice would you give to high school students interested in attending K-State or pursuing a career in agriculture?

Take risks and say “yes.” If you want to do something, just do it. Deciding to come to K-State was a leap of faith for me. It was scary, but I wouldn’t have chosen any other school.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

In the College of Agriculture, the faculty are so willing to give you experiences. It was important to me to attend a land-grant university. Understanding the mission and purpose of a land-grant university helps us continue our work in researching and innovating for agriculture. I’m involved in a lot of research now, and even though I didn’t initially think it was something I’d pursue, I’ve gained valuable skills and tools through it that I believe are really important.