California Grape Growers Award Scholarships

Fresno, CA – Students in California’s grape growing regions have been awarded scholarships to help them attend college, thanks to table grape growers.   

Seven field worker scholarships were awarded in 2016: three $20,000 four?year field worker scholarships, two $3,500 two?year scholarships to community colleges, and a onetime, Martin J. Zaninovich $20,000 four?year field worker scholarship.  Also, three

$20,000 four?year agricultural scholarships were awarded in 2016.

Here are the 2016 scholarship recipients:

$20,000 Four?year Field Worker Scholarships

Ms. Andrea Marin?Contreras is a graduate of Riverdale High School with a weighted GPA of 4.03.  Andrea plans to attend University of California, San Diego and major in English, with a career goal of becoming a writer or journalist.  Andrea was a member of the honor roll at her school, a member of the varsity basketball team and taught catechism to younger children at her local church.  Her mother, Carmen Contreras, worked for Sandridge Partners in Corcoran in the 2015?16 season.  

Ms. Guadalupe Melgoza?Ortiz plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona to major in mathematics and has a career goal of becoming a pediatrician.  Guadalupe is a graduate of Desert Mirage High School with a weighted GPA of 4.13.  She was a member of the National Honor Society, AVID, and a member of her church’s youth group.  Her parents both worked for several table grape growers in the Thermal area in the 2015?16 season.  

Ms. Araceli Garcia?Perez plans to attend University of California, Irvine with a major in nursing, and has a career goal of becoming a registered nurse.  She graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.20 from Desert Mirage High School.  Araceli was a member of AVID, the junior varsity basketball team, and volunteer for Building Healthy Communities.  Araceli’s parents, Maria Consuelo Garcia and Jose Jaime Garcia, are both employees of Richard Bagdasarian, Inc. in Mecca.  

$3,500 Two?year Field Worker Scholarships

Mr. Angel Acevedo is a graduate of Harmony Magnet Academy with a weighted GPA of 3.04.  He plans to attend Porterville College with a career goal of becoming a social worker.  Angel spent many hours assisting students with special needs and encouraging and mentoring incoming freshman at his high school.  Angel’s father, David Acevedo, is a long?time supervisor with Vincent B. Zaninovich and Sons, Inc. in Richgrove.  

Ms. Cindy Cisneros is a graduate of Reedley High School with a weighted GPA of 3.58.  She plans to attend Reedley College and pursue a career as a dentist.  Cindy was a member of the academic decathlon team and Generation Green Club.  Her mother, Minerva Cisneros Torres, worked in the harvest for several table grape growers in the Exeter area in the 2015?16 season.  

Ms. Fabiola Porras is a graduate of Sanger High School with a weighted GPA of 3.23. Fabiola plans to attend Fresno City College with a career goal of becoming a medical assistant.  She spent many hours after school in programs designed to help her with her goal of working in the medical field.  Her father, Victor Porras, is a long?time employee of Circle K
Ranch in Fowler.   

$20,000 Martin J. Zaninovich Four?year Field Worker Scholarship

The Martin J. Zaninovich Field Worker Scholarship is a onetime memorial scholarship in remembrance of Mr. Martin J. Zaninovich.  He played an integral role in the California table grape industry and requested that anyone wishing to remember him have the opportunity to contribute to the California Table Grape Field Worker Scholarship Program.  The end result was a $20,000, four?year scholarship awarded to a student in the Delano/Porterville area who best exemplified what Mr. Zaninovich stood for: hard work, dedication, and someone with a clear set of goals.  This very special scholarship was awarded to Ms. Valeria Garcia.

Ms. Valeria Garcia is a graduate of McFarland High School with a weighted GPA of 4.42. Valeria plans to attend University of California, Berkeley and major in mathematics.  She was the class valedictorian, a delegate to Girls State, a volunteer for Read Across America, and volunteers for her local church.  Her mother, Maria Garcia, worked in the harvest for Sunview and Sun Pacific in the McFarland area in the 2015?16 season.  

$20,000 Four?year Agricultural Scholarships

Mr. Jacob Willhite is a graduate of Sierra Pacific High school with a weighted GPA of 3.87.  Jacob plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and major in agriculture education with a career goal of becoming an agricultural teacher.  He was a member of 4?H and FFA and also a Link Crew Leader, helping freshman adjust to high school.

Ms. Lauren Barlow is a graduate of Hanford High School with a weighted GPA of 3.97. She plans to attend California State University, Fresno and major in plant breeding and genetics, with a career goal of becoming a plant geneticist.  Lauren was a member of FFA, where she attended the national convention in Louisville, Kentucky.  She was also a four?year athlete on the Hanford High water polo and swim teams.  

Ms. Kaitlyn Garcia is a graduate of Frontier High School with a weighted GPA of 3.78.  She plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and major in crop science, with a career goal of becoming a pest control advisor.  Kaitlyn was a member of FFA  and also a cheerleader.   

Source: California Table Grape Commission