Farm Credit West announced the 34 winners in its 2014 Scholarship Program, all sons and daughters of Farm Credit West customers.
Local first-time winners of $1,500 included:
- Garrison Fernandes of Tipton is an active FFA member and athlete. He received numerous honors and awards such as honor roll, State FFA Degree and 2013 Boys State candidate. Garrison plans to attend Cal Poly, SLO and major in bio resources ag engineering.
- Foster Hengst of Woodlake is a sixth generation farmer on his family farm. He has held leadership roles as FFA chapter vice president and light house club president, participating in numerous FFA contests, and participating in four high school musicals. He was also a Boys State candidate. Hengst plans to attend College of Sequoias and major in plant science.
- Hattie Jameson of Visalia is an active member of FFA, holding leadership positions at the chapter, section and region levels. Her goal is to become an agriculture teacher and touch the lives of her students in the same way her agriculture teacher did for her.Hattie plans to attend Cal Poly, SLO and major in agriculture science.
- Emma Larson of Hanford is active in FFA, varsity volleyball, senior class officer and volunteer work. Her career goal is to be working in Sacramento as a lobbyist, whose main priority is being an advocate for agriculture. Larson plans to attend Cal Poly, SLO and major in agricultural communications.
The following local students were awarded with a scholarship renewal in the amount of $1,500 for the 2014-15 collegiate school year: Aaron Brown, Hanford; Kristen Droogh, Lemoore; Austin Fernandes, Tulare; Lauren Friend, Tulare; Alyssa Galhano, Visalia; Mazie Jameson, Visalia; Thomas Larson, Hanford; Cole Martin, Tulare; Theresa Sweeney, Visalia; Erin VanGrouw, Visalia; and Madeline Wisecarver, Hanford.
Farm Credit West is a lending institution of the Farm Credit System with local branch offices in Dinuba, Hanford and Tulare.