SAS Student Spotlight: Makaia Haight

Makaia Haight

Degrees: Animal and Poultry Sciences, Dairy Science
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia

After graduation:
I plan on pursuing a Master's degree in a field in Animal Sciences. I then hope to attend vet school and be on a mixed animal track, so I can learn more about companion animals and livestock. 

I was a member of:
Dairy Club, Minorities in Pre-Vet Club, and Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences

I also worked as:
a School of Animal Sciences Ambassador, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador, and Advising Ambassador 

Undergraduate research I have participated in:
I am currently working in Dr. Gerrard's muscle biology lab and have been here since March 2024. I also assisted with a swine nutrition lab during the Fall semester of 2023. I led my own undergraduate research in the Fall semester of 2024, where we looked at piglet nursery behavior. We were teaching artificial intelligence models how to identify the different behaviors. 

My biggest achievement is:
going outside of my comfort zone. I used to mainly do activities because my friends had plans to attend, but now if I find something to be even remotely interesting, I will attend. 

My favorite fun fact:
is that Virginia Tech use to house the presidential pardoned turkeys. 

My favorite VT memory:
attending the basketball game on February 1, 2024. At this game we beat UVA and I was able to take pictures with most of the team. I also met one of my lifelong friends at this game and we have gone to every home game together since we met. 

Some music that defines my time at Virginia Tech:
Heroes and Villains by Metro Boomin and Hardstone Psycho by Don Toliver  

The thing I am most excited for in the future is:
to work in the field as a veterinarian. I can see myself out on a farm, pregnancy checking pigs or helping a cow give birth. I can see myself giving vaccines to cats and doing surgery on a dog. 

My advice to incoming freshmen is:
to get outside of your comfort zone. Try new things because you never know what you may find out you like or who you may meet. 

By: Kiera Porter, School of Animal Sciences Communications Intern