Bryan Cole / The Collegian
This is the second year the HOPE scholarship has been given by Horizon Organic
A freshman animal science major at Fresno State is the first student from the university to receive the Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) national scholarship, a $2,500 award.
Michael Fagundes, 19, of Merced, Calif., said, “I thought it was awesome because I know there were a lot of qualified kids that applied for it. I appreciated the fact that they were willing to offer scholarships to college kids, because education is not cheap.â€Â
The HOPE program has been around since 2001, but this year was the second time scholarships were awarded, a Horizon Organic spokesperson said. The HOPE program started with the focus of converting more dairy farmers and their land to organic production and sustainable farm management practices.
“Horizon Organic is a pioneer in organic dairy farming and the first nationally certified organic dairy brand. Horizon Organic milk is supplied by 475 certified organic family farmers from 22 states nationwide,â€Â a Horizon spokesperson said in a press release.
Fagundes is the son of Horizon Organic producer partners Ralph and Vicki Fagundes.
“I’ve liked dairy since I could remember,â€Â Fagundes said. “My family owns a dairy, so I’ve grown up working in a dairy my whole life. When I was a little boy I rode around with my dad in his white truck and I would hang out with my dad to see what he would do in the dairy.â€Â
The Fagundes family has owned their dairy in Merced for more than 20 years, Fagundes said.
“My great-grandfather moved from Azores (a Portuguese archipelago) where dairy was the way of life there,â€Â Fagundes said. “When my great grandfather moved here he kept on working in dairy.â€Â
The scholarship was awarded to help further the recipients̢۪ education as future organic dairy leaders.
Fagundes was one of four students who received the $2,500 award.
A spokesperson from Horizon Organic said, “Michael and the other 2008 recipients all demonstrate a passion for organic farming and were chosen by prominent members of the organic community.â€Â
The three other scholarship recipients were Ashley Beaudoin, a freshman at Vermont Technical College; Colton Brodt, sophomore at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; and Leah Molitor, freshman at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn.
Dr. Alan Green, clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine and board chair of the Organic Center, said in a press release, “I was impressed by these four students, and all of the applicants for their dedication to the organic industry at such a young age. It was an honor to help select the winners of such a reputable scholarship; they all have bright futures ahead of them.â€Â All four recipients are aspiring agriculture and veterinary science students.
One of the requirements to apply for the scholarship was that the applicant must be a child or grandchild of a Horizon Organic dairy producer. Applicant also had to write a personal statement about “the importance of the dairy industry and its future as it pertains to our country.â€Â
Fagundes said the dairy industry is important because “it’s a huge industry that provides lots of jobs and it’s also important that we are able to provide our own food supply so we are not dependent on other nations.â€Â
Fagundes plans to use his award to help pay for his college expenses.
“I plan to go into the family business and take over the family dairy one day,â€Â Fagundes said.
This semester Fagundes is taking 18 units while rushing for the Ag fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho. Fagundes also joined the dairy club.
John Cordeiro, animal science professor at Fresno State, has Fagundes in two of his classes this semester.
“[Fagundes] is somewhat of a leader, he’s not afraid to speak out and he has his own ideas, but I also think he is conscious about other people’s ideas and he’s very good at listening,â€Â Cordeiro said.