Scholarships Support Agricultural Workers & Their Families
Napa Valley, Aug. 15, 2023 —Ag Health Benefits Alliance (AHBA) is proud to announce this year’s grant recipients of its scholarship program, the AHBA Educational Foundation, LLC. The program offers scholarship grant opportunities for AHBA Member Employers’ eligible employee plan participants, their spouses, and children or grandchildren. Now in its fourth year, for the first time the program offered two distinct scholarship tracks: academic and vocational. This year’s award winners are:
Academic |
School |
Course of Study |
Arleth Bautista Bernal |
Cal Poly |
Plant Science |
Maricela Estrada |
Napa Valley College |
Teaching |
Alejandro Topete Esquivel |
Santa Rosa Junior College |
General Education |
Cristian Flores |
Sonoma State |
Psychology |
Diego Guerrero |
Sacramento State |
Mechanical Engineer |
Lizbeth Hernandez |
Clark University |
Business |
Uriel Hernandez |
Chico State |
Nutrition and Food |
Monce Perez |
Sacramento State |
Architecture |
Janette Ramirez |
Sonoma State |
Nursing |
Vocational |
School |
Course of Study |
Cruz Evelia Esquivel |
Amblard Leather Atelier |
Leather Working |
Guillermo Andrade Gonzalez |
390 Barbering & Cosmetology |
Barber |
Allegra Macedo |
Napa Valley Wine Academy |
Wine & Spirit Education |
Shannon Mattingly |
UC Davis |
Human Resources Management |
Jennifer Mondragon |
National Holistic Institute |
Massage Therapist |
Joshep Nevares |
to be determined |
Welding |
Alejandro Amezcua Perez |
to be determined |
Residential Electrician |
“We had many extraordinary applicants this year and are pleased to award over $50,000 in scholarships,” says Foundation President, Rebecca Barlow. “Cruz, Janette, Maricela and Monce are prior award winners. It is especially exciting to follow their progress and see them achieve their goals.”
AHBA also offered a second application period in June to give vocational applicants another opportunity to apply outside of the traditional school year. Board member and program supporter, Michael Wolf, says “These scholarships make it possible for our members’ employees and families to enhance job-skills or pursue training that may have been out of reach. Our aim is that these scholarships will be a win/win, for both the employers and employees.”
About Ag Health Benefits Alliance
Ag Health Benefits Alliance (AHBA) has been providing affordable health insurance and other benefits to agricultural employees in Northern California since its founding as the California Winegrower Foundation in 1972. Started by a group of forward-thinking winegrape growers who shared a common goal of improving working conditions, AHBA is a non-profit member organization that supports both employers and employees. AHBA’s members were dedicated to providing health benefits for employees, including seasonal workers, long before required by law. Today, AHBA provides those benefits to more than 1,500 agricultural employees.