Four Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology students were recognized with area ag scholar awards April 28 by 23rd District Assemblyman Jim Patterson at a ceremony at the Vincent E. Petrucci Viticulture Building.

Plant science graduate students Anthony Mele (Clovis) and Rohith Vulchi (Bapatla, India), plant science senior Aldo Garcia (Shafter) and agricultural business senior Emma Zacharias (Merced) were selected for the honor based on their passion, growth and innovation in various industries.

Garcia has been a member of the soils judging team that has competed the last three years at the national contest and has served as president of the campus plant science club, vice president of the campus plant health society and senior chair of operations of the FFA field day committee. He was one of six students chosen nationally by the American Society of Agronomy’s Greenfield Scholar program that traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate Congressional members for agricultural research funding.

Mele is conducting his master’s thesis on improved irrigation and nitrogen use efficiency in sugar beets – a lesser-used rotational crop that is suitable for poorer quality soils and has the potential to produce ethanol. He was one of 19 students selected nationally as a Gerald O. Mott Scholar by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. His research poster also won first prize at the ASA area chapter competition, and the 4.0 student has also been selected as an Irrigation Association E3 learner honoree.

Vulchi has conducted research in creating a cost-effective and easy-to-use test for Lepidopteran insect pests in almond and pistachio orchards. He has also worked as a research technician for the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in its entomology laboratory. Growing up in India, he worked with farmers in his homeland to develop better agricultural practices through national and area agricultural extension programs.

Zacharias has conducted her Jordan College honors research project on the Central Valley’s dairy industry and its state economic impact. She has served as a member of the FFA state conference planning committee, agricultural business club and Alpha Zeta honorary society. She has also worked with the Abundant Life Ranch non-profit youth organization and helped oversee its spring open house event.