Pre-Pandemic Activities, Fall 2019. Kentucky State University (KSU) graduate students (under the leadership of David Fox (2021 graduate) and Faculty Advisor, Dr. Noel Novelo prepared application documents and held in-person meetings to establish the KSU United States Aquaculture Society (USAS) Student Sub-Unit. Pandemic Beginnings. The KSU USAS Sub-Unit was officially established amidst the growing pandemic. The USAS Board accepted KSU’s application for formation of the USAS Student Sub-Unit in February 2020, and the Sub-Unit became an official Kentucky State University student organization in April 2021. Activities. Three Sub-Unit Presidents (coauthors) and executive leadership officials have been elected to serve since then. Student members held on-line video conference meetings during 2020, and a combination of on-line and in-person meetings in 2021 to coordinate and plan educational, social and community service activities.
Despite Covid-19 restrictions, KSU graduate students were involved in community service and local aquaculture in Scott County, Oldham County, and Franklin County in Kentucky. Highlights include: clean-up of pond and recreational areas at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, a Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden (Georgetown, KY); removal of thick filamentous algae and harvest of 1500 Large Mouth Bass at Crystal Bridge Fish Farm (Crestwood, KY); Oral and Poster presentations at Aquaculture America 2021; harvest of Fresh Water Prawns, and social activities at the KSU Aquaculture Research Center (Frankfort, KY), and design of the KSU USAS Student Sub-Unit’s Logo (Figure 1) and T-shirts – some of which will be donated for the USAS silent auction at Aquaculture 2022 Conference. Future activities include increase of local Aquaculture farm visits, high school outreach and tours, liaison with other USAS Student Sub-Units to achieve common goals, and providing additional leadership, educational and networking opportunities as stated in Section II of the KSU USAS Student Sub-Unit By-Laws.