The Plant Science Club successfully defended its Presidents’ Trophy national title for its community outreach and agronomy education presentation at the Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences national speech contest.

The nation’s top university plant science competition was held Saturday, Nov. 3, in Baltimore, Maryland, at the tri-societies national conference for the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America.

Among the 12 Fresno State students who attended the conference, plant science club president and senior Ignacio Mendoza (Salinas) delivered the club’s presentation that also covered innovative problem-solving skills, fundraising activities and professional opportunities and industry and community partnerships.

Mendoza expressed special thanks to plant science department staff member Marlene Miyasaki, who was instrumental in assisting plant science students and the Plant Science Club in many ways.

Fresno State claimed similar top honors in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017.