FRESNO, CA - The California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) has made an announcement that could impact the future of agriculture. CTGC revealed that seven students from the table grape growing regions of California earned scholarships awarded by California table grape growers.

Growers awarded two $25,000 field worker scholarships to students attending a four-year college or university, a press release stated. Two $14,500 field worker bridge scholarships were also awarded to students attending two years of community college and transferring to a four-year college or university. In order to be eligible for a field worker scholarship, applicants or a parent or guardian must work in the California table grape harvest.

Three $25,000 agriculture scholarships were awarded to students attending a four-year California college or university and planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in a field of study pertinent to the table grape industry. Since 1985 California table grape growers have awarded more than 200 scholarships to help students in the grape growing regions of California attend college.

The $25,000 Field Worker Scholarships were awarded to:

• Leslie Aquino graduated from East Bakersfield High School with a 4.5 GPA and will attend the University of California, Merced to study computer science
• Marco Jimenez graduated from Delano High School with a 4.2 GPA and will attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to major in civil engineering

The $14,500 Field Worker Bridge Scholarships were awarded to:

• Anali Alcantar graduated from Harmony Magnet Academy with a 3.3 GPA and will attend Porterville College to study education
• Lizbeth Ramirez Ramos graduated from Harmony Magnet Academy with a 4.0 GPA and will attend Porterville College to study nursing

The $25,000 Agriculture Scholarships were awarded to:

• Madison Jackson graduated from Liberty High School with a 4.1 GPA and will attend California State University, Chico to study agriculture education and environmental science
• Olivia Machado graduated from Tulare Western High School with a 4.3 GPA and will attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to study agriculture business
• Brenda Monje graduated from Tulare Western High School with a 4.1 GPA and will attend California State University, Fresno to study food technology

Congratulations to the scholarship recipients!