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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
FFA awards 2008 scholarships
Thousands earned by eager ag students
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Photo by Paige Lampson
Former GHS Ag Director Hugh Mooney returned to GHS on Thursday to present the Brad Davis Memorial Scholarship to Amanda Sailors. Sailors was also awarded the Lenard Stiehr Scholarship and a Sacramento Foundation for Agriculture Education award.
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By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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Members, family and friends of the Galt Chapter of the Future Farmers of America gathered together to honor their finest on Thursday at the annul FFA banquet held at GHS.
Thousands of dollars in scholarships were awarded to many deserving young ag students who plan to further either their education in agriculture or their careers in the ag industry straight out of high school.
From GHS Ag Boosters, local individuals and businesses, to county organizations that value agriculture education in schools, honors were presented and dollars given to FFA members who have risen above the rest to be the best.
The Ag Boosters, who support FFA travel and events through annual fundraising, presented six scholarships ranging in value to FFA students who have excelled both academically and within the FFA organization. These scholarships were awarded to Kelsey Carr, Megan Wright, Morgann Marciel, Amanda Sailors and Katelyn Seifert.
The Peter Beck Memorial Scholarship is awarded in honor of the former FFA member to a student who has exhibited a strong academic performance while remaining active in student activities. The 2008 Peter Beck was awarded to Curtis Azevedo. Azevedo was also awarded one of two Galt Grange scholarships awarded for the first time this year.
Paul Pearson served as FFA chapter president as a young man and had all three of his children complete the ag program at GHS when he was older. Always a supporter of agriculture and vocational education, the Pearson family established a memorial scholarship in honor of Paul that is given annually to students who exemplify leadership and commitment.
Megan Wright was named the 2008 recipient of the Paul Pearson Memorial Scholarship, presented to her by her former elementary school principal from Oak View, Bill Cheichi.
The Sandra Pellandini Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students who will attend either college or a trade school. A strong advocate of agriculture education, the Pellandini family has been farming in the Galt area for the past 100 years and presented two young men, Brett Durfey and Kyle Santos, with the 2008 award.
Morgan Marciel, the 2008 FFA vice president, earned a fair share of honors for her FFA career on Thursday night, taking home the Sacramento Young Farmers and Ranchers Scholarship, the Bruno and Eleanor Rausser Memorial Scholarship, the Alcides DeMelo Memorial Scholarship, a Sacramento County Foundation for Agriculture Education Scholarship, and a Galt Grange Scholarship.
Not to be outdone, fellow FFA member Amanda Sailors wracked up her share of honors as well.
In addition to an Ag Booster award, Sailors also took home a Sacramento County Foundation for Agriculture Education award, the Lenard Stiehr Scholarship for students who plan to attend college, and the most coveted annual award, the Brad Davis Memorial Scholarship, a perpetual award given to the student who exemplifies Davis’ enthusiasm and love for life.
Awarded in the memory of a brother and a son whose life came to a tragic end far too soon, the Alcides DeMelo Memorial Scholarship was also awarded to Melissa Mendonca and Denelle Paine. Paine was also awarded the Jesus and Esperanza Garcia Achievement Award.
Awarded to an FFA senior who exhibits outstanding leadership and achievement in FFA, Galt High’s longest running scholarship, the Troy Brooks Memorial Scholarship, was awarded to Kelsy Carr for 2008.
For giving her time, energy and heart and soul to the Galt High FFA program, Lauren Baglietto was awarded the 2008 DeKalb Award for Agriculture Excellence.
Looking to the future, freshman FFA member Alise Azevedo was awarded the 2008 Star Greenhand Award for excelling in FFA, and Vince Pellegri was given high honors for the 2008 season by being named Star Chapter Farmer. As winners of the annual awards, both Azevedo and Pellegri will travel to the FFA national convention being held in Indiana this summer.
“You have a very special program here,” said Mooney, who is now employed with the California Department of Education. “You may not really know that because it is all you know, but now that I travel around the state visiting other FFA programs, I have come to believe this is the educational model we should use for education nationwide.”
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