UnitedAg announced the 2020 recipients of the Agribusiness Education Foundation’s educational scholarship. The member-owned agricultural trade association awarded sixty students from agricultural communities across California and Arizona a combined $75,000.
Each year, the association’s Board of Directors and the Foundation’s Education Committee spotlight two outstanding applicants with top awards. Karli Lundberg (affiliated with Babe Farms, Inc.) earned the Maurice McMillan Award. Allyson Tomasello (affiliated with Produce West, Inc.) received the William C. Goodrich Scholarship, created in honor of the late UnitedAg founder.
The scholarship funds are for use during the 2020-2021 academic year and can be applied towards tuition costs, fees, books and room and board. Previous UnitedAg scholarship winners have earned degrees and taken their place in management, government, market development and foreign trade, with many working in agribusiness.
Since its first award in 1989, the Agribusiness Education Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarship monies to over 900 students.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Maurice McMillan Memorial Scholarship Award
Karli Lundberg, Babe Farms, Inc., (Santa Maria, CA)
William C. Goodrich Scholarship Award
Allyson Tomasello, Produce West, Inc., (Salinas, CA)
California Recipients
Bakersfield
Miranda Devan, Braga Fresh Foods
Calexico
Andrea Soto, Foothill Packing
Castroville
Diviana Navarro, Watsonville Coast Produce
Chico
Ryan Calbert, Wizard Manufacturing, Inc.
Dinuba
Kandra Salinas, Citrus Research Board
Firebaugh
Sandy Rubio, Toma-Tek
Fresno
Venissia Garcia, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Denver Noell, Nichols Pistachio
Gilroy
Brenda Barragan, Christopher Ranch, LLC
Glenn
Ashlynn Geiger, McCorkle Farms, Inc.
Greenfield
Elizabeth Acevedo, Fresh Foods, Inc.
Hanford
Oscar Garcia-Medina, Dover Dairy Farms
King City
Belinda Silva Chavez, South County Packing
Kingsburg
Madelynn Reed, Mountain View Cold Storage, LLC
La Grange
Brandon Harden, Green Rubber-Kennedy Ag, LP
Merced
Emely Cruz, Church Brothers, LLC
Monterey
Jennifer Burton, Ippolito International
Oxnard
Edgar Lopez, Saticoy Lemon Association
Cesar Rivera, Ventura Pacific Co.
Arianna Sanchez, Saticoy Lemon Association
Salinas
Ricky Alvarez, The Nunes Company, Inc./ Blanco
Kenya Burton, Markon Cooperative, Inc.
Lizbeth De La Torre, Ramco Employment Services
Benjamin Eastman, Brent Eastman Insurance Services., Inc.
Mercedez Espino, Green Rubber-Kennedy Ag, LP
Miriam Garcia Cendejas, Elkhorn Packing Co., LLC
Maria Medina, Ramco Employment Services
Selena Medina Medrano, Ramco Employment Services
Melody Neely Cabrera, Sea Mist Farms
Allyson Tomasello, Produce West, Inc.
San Ardo
Aaron Hernandez, McIntyre Labor Service, Inc.
San Diego
Bryan Amaro, Pacific Ag Consulting
Santa Maria
Eddie Lundberg, Babe Farms, Inc.
Santa Paula
Osvaldo Ambriz Magana, Saticoy Lemon Association
Katherine Miller, Saticoy Lemon Association
Elizabeth Miller, Saticoy Lemon Association
Soledad
Rachel Costa, Foothill Packing
Michelle Flores-Leon, Braga Ranch
Rebeca Gallaga, Ramco Employment Services
Cristian Vargas, Al Pak Labor
Adriana Vargas Mendoza, Braga Ranch
Tulare
David Fagundes, Bosman Dairy
Jazmin Rios Martinez, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Turlock
Hannah Ryan, Associated Feed & Supply
Valley Center
Jenna Stehly, Nick Stehly Farms, Inc.
Ventura
Josef Martinez, Ventura Pacific Co.
Visalia
Isabella Argueta, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Brendon Atsma, Angiola Dairy
America Huipio-Piedra, Nichols Pistachio
Michele Noell, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Alondra Sanchez, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Brian Valencia, Nichols Farms, Inc.
Watsonville
Jason Gonzalez, Henry Hibino Farms, LLC
Kevin Gonzalez, Henry Hibino Farms, LLC
Arturo Infante II, Ocean Mist Farms, Inc.
Arizona Recipients
Avondale
Maria De Jesus Rizo, Duncan Family Farms
San Luis
Jaydi Ramirez, Valley Pride, Inc.
Tolleson
Melanie Rodriguez, Duncan Family Farms
Yuma
Alberto Rivera Torres, Foothill Packing
About the Scholarship Program
Established in 1989, the scholarship program provides financial assistance to UnitedAg-affiliated students in any major of study. Previous scholarship winners have taken their place in management, government, market development, international sales and foreign trade. Some students have gone on to pursue advanced graduate studies.
About the Agribusiness Education Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Agribusiness Education Foundation (AEF) assists members, employees of members and their families pave their way to educational and future success. The Foundation empowers the ag community through financial assistance, business skills education and leadership development.
About UnitedAg
Founded in 1980, UnitedAg is a multi-commodity member-owned agricultural trade association dedicated to providing innovative healthcare solutions for a strong and healthy agricultural industry. Our over 1,000 agriculture affiliated member organizations network and share creative ways to transform our ever-changing industry. UnitedAg strives to bring innovative health benefits and solutions to agribusiness by meeting our member’s employee health benefits needs, advocating for ag with lawmakers and helping members comply with regulations. Based in Irvine, Calif., UnitedAg has offices in Oxnard, Corona, Salinas, Fresno and Santa Maria. For more information, visit www.unitedag.org or contact Maribel Ochoa at 949.471.3206 or mochoa@unitedag.org.