International Agri-Center World Ag Expo and E.M. Tharp, Inc. have teamed up for the eighth year to provide the "We Believe in Growing" scholarship which supports local high school students who will be attending four-year universities to major in an agricultural field. This year's winners, Adrianna Santos and Garrison Fernandes, will each receive $2,500 scholarships to be renewed up to four years, totaling $10,000 per student.

"We at EM Tharp, Inc. are proud to be a part of a scholarship program that gives back to agricultural students in our Valley communities," said Vester East, E.M. Tharp, Inc. "We strive to help bring the opportunities to our students so that they in turn can make an impact in our Valley."

Adrianna Santos, a student at Tulare Union High School, plans to study agriculture education and communications at Fresno State this coming fall. She has participated in several FFA judging teams, is a 4-H junior leader and a World Ag Expo volunteer.

"I have worked very hard to achieve top honors academically and have participated in numerous clubs and judging teams," said Santos, "Thank you for the generous financial support."

Garrison Fernandes, a student at Tulare Union High School, plans to study agricultural engineering at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is a four-year FFA member and served as the vice president of their officer team for two years.

"It has been a lifelong dream of mine to attend and receive an agricultural engineering degree," said Fernandes, "The real dream, however, is being able to take what I have learned and bring it back to what I know and that is farming."

To be considered for the scholarship, students from across the Central Valley submitted letters of recommendation, high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores and must be graduating from high school during the 2013-2014 school year. The winners will be recognized at World Ag Expo's media day on Monday, February 10, 2014.
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2.10.2014