Fresno, CA – Students in California’s grape growing region are ready to attend college thanks to table grape growers.
Five field worker scholarships were awarded in 2015: three $20,000, four-year field worker scholarships and two $3,500 two-year scholarships to community colleges. Also, two $20,000 four-year agricultural scholarships were awarded in 2015.
Here are the 2015 scholarship recipients:
$20,000 Four-year Field Worker Scholarships
Ms. Maria Torres Ramos is a graduate of Porterville High School, and will be attending University of California, Los Angeles in the fall to major in mathematics. Maria was a valedictorian and a top student in her class with a 4.0 GPA. She has the goal of becoming a teacher and creating a tutoring center. Her mother, Maria D. Ramos, worked in the table grape harvest for Delano Farms during the 2014-15 season.
Ms. Sonia Velasco is a graduate of McFarland High School, where she ranked at the top of her graduating class with a weighted GPA of 4.42. Sonia will be attending Stanford University in the fall to major in computer engineering to pursue a career in the engineering or computer industries. Her mother, Cecilia Velasco, worked in the table grape harvest for Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons during the 2014-15 season.
Ms. Maria Lizeth Ruiz Herrejon is a graduate of Paramount Academy, and plans to attend University of California, San Diego to major in engineering where she would like to obtain a Ph.D. Lizeth is a valedictorian and graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.41. Her father, Gabriel Ruiz, worked in the table grape harvest for Pandol Brothers during the 2014-15 season.
$3,500 Two-year Field Worker Scholarships
Ms. Cecilia Felix is a graduate of Porterville High School, and plans to attend Porterville College with the career goal of becoming a nurse. Cecilia is graduating with a 3.6 GPA, and, as the oldest of four siblings, is proud to be the first in her family to go to college. Her mother, Nancy Ramirez, worked in the table grape harvest for Sun Pacific during the 2014-15 season.
Ms. Jennifer Ramos Quevedo is a graduate from Porterville High School with a 3.16 GPA. Jennifer will attend Porterville College and eventually plans to pursue a degree at
University of California, Davis and a career as a veterinarian. Jennifer’s father, Jorge Ramos, worked in the table grape harvest for Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons during the 2014-15 season.
$20,000 Four-year Agricultural Scholarships
Ms. Emily Babcock is a graduate from Porterville High School, and plans to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to study agricultural business. Emily is president of the local Future Farmers of America chapter and was a member of the school’s varsity volleyball team.
Ms. Paige Wilson is a graduate from Kingsburg High School, and plans to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to study agriculture communications. Paige’s career goal is to educate consumers on responsible farming and demonstrate how farmers are good stewards of the land.
Source: California Table Grape Commission
