Investing in the Future: Taylor Farms Annual Scholarship Luncheon

Since 2008, Taylor Farms has been awarding college scholarships to deserving students looking to further their education. On Friday, we held this year’s Scholarship Luncheon and awarded 12 students, all children of active, full-time Taylor Farms employees, with a $20,000 academic scholarship and renewed 22 scholarships; totaling $170,000 in scholarships for 2017.

7 of the 12 scholarship recipients. From left, Ismael Lopez, Crystal Hernandez Marquez, Crystal Osuna Cecilio, Paulina Suguey Hernandez, Leticia Isabel Cardenas, Diana Cervantes Morales, and Maria Fernanda Garcia.

Each recipient receives an upfront check for $5,000 with a guaranteed renewal of $5,000 for every year they remain in an undergraduate or graduate program at a university.

“Taylor Farms values higher education and decided to invest in mine. Taylor Farms is committed to seeing me through to the end and because a significant amount of financial burden has been lifted, I can focus on maximizing my education,” said Adela Contreras, 2016 Taylor Farms Scholarship Recipient and UC Davis Undergraduate student.

Leticia Isabel Cardenas will be pursuing her undergraduate degree at San Diego State University in the Fall. Leticia is pictured with her family, including both of her parents, Elias and Leticia Cardenas. Leticia is a Taylor Farms employee and has been with us since 1998 — 19 years! Also pictured are Mark Campion and Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms.

Adela received her initial scholarship in 2016 and is now on the renewal track as she enters her second year at the University of California, Davis, pursuing a major in Environmental Science and Management. This summer, Adela has returned to her hometown of Salinas, CA to intern at Taylor Farms. She will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and apply her passion for sustainability by working closely with Taylor Farms Director of Sustainability, Nicole Flewell.

Maria Fernanda Garcia is pursuing a degree in medicine from the University of Arizona. Maria’s father, Raul Garcia is a Taylor Farms employee and has been with us for 10 years!

The Taylor Farms Scholarship Program was formally developed in 2012, although the company has been awarding scholarships to students since 2008. The scholarship member selection committee consists of 12 Taylor Farms employees, and has awarded $710,000 in scholarships over the past eleven years.

Paulina Suguey Hernandez is attending UC Davis in the Fall. She’s pictured here with her father and mother, Aristeo Hernandez and Luz Bertha Tapia, who both work for Taylor Farms. Aristeo has been with us for 6 years and Luz has been with us for 11 years!

This program means so much to us and our employees that Taylor Farms New Jersey also implemented the program this year (read the recap from earlier this month) and Taylor Farms Pacific in Tracy, California has been managing their own scholarship program for the past three years; this year they are awarding four remarkable students with $5,000 scholarships to pursue a higher education.

Over 75 family members, friends, and Taylor Farms employees gathered to celebrate the young students achievements.

“An excellent education is the foundation of a free and fair society in America”, said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, Taylor Farms. “At Taylor Farms we are proud to support children of our valued team members with $20,000 scholarships to pursue their college dreams.”

• Betzibeth Valencia – Arizona State University
• Brandy Martinez – University of Arizona
• Crystal Hernandez Marquez – California State University, Monterey Bay
• Crystal Osuna Cecilio – California State University, Monterey Bay
• Daisy Solorzano – University of California, Davis
• Diana Cervantes Morales – California State University, Monterey Bay
• Ismael Lopez – San Jose State University
• Leticia Isabel Cardenas – San Diego State University
• Maria Fernanda Garcia – University of Arizona
• Paulina Suguey Hernandez – University of California, Davis
• Viridiana Macias Contreras – Humboldt State University
• Zeltzin Donaji Gonzalez Lopez – San Francisco State University

Watch event highlight video here: