REEDLEY – Twenty-one high school seniors have risen above the rest, carving their place as top performers in career technical education (CTE).
The Valley Regional Occupation Program (VROP) has announced the recipients of the Student Ambassador Award and scholarship. The 21 students were selected from a pool of 61 nominees across eight districts, chosen for their leadership, responsibility and trustworthiness.
“Eligibility for the scholarship is not solely based on academic performance or technical skill achievements,” said VROP Superintendent Fabrizio Lofaro. “Instead, it takes a more comprehensive approach, recognizing well-rounded individuals who demonstrate leadership, perseverance and a commitment to personal and professional growth.”
Ambassador Award winners are the equivalent of valedictorians at a traditional high school, and represent the top percentage of CTE students in the Valley.
The 21 Student Ambassadors by district are:
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- Corcoran Unified: Miguel Macho of Corcoran High School
- Cutler-Orosi Unified: Giancarlo Ortega of Orosi High and Allison Rios Munoz of Lovell High
- Dinuba Unified: Crystal Martinez of Dinuba High
- Kingsburg Joint Union High: Scarlett Andino of Kingsburg High School
- Kings Canyon Unified: District: Jesus Vasquez III, Isys Martinez, Alexandra Rangel, and Sara Gomez of Reedley High School. Sergio Zuniga of Orange Cove High School. Guadalupe Espinoza Loo of Kings Canyon High School.
- Parlier Unified: Marcos Cherres of Parlier High and Salis Gonzalez of San Joaquin Valley High
- Sanger Unified: Leslie Hernandez, Navarrete and Brandon Soto of Sanger High School. Sukhman Dosanjh, Maria Prieto and Emily Arce of Sanger West High School. Sophia Tovar of Kings River High School.
- Selma Unified: Brianna Capetillo and Kennedy Carrasco of Selma High School.
Nominations are done by VROP instructors, and students compiled applications which were submitted for review at the end of the fall semester. Applications were then screened twice by committee members and the highest scores in each sector were calculated.
VROP serves over 10,000 students, and offers pathways focused on industries identified by the state of California. This year’s winners excelled in a variety of pathways ranging from engineering, construction, arts and entertainment and much more.
A prestigious dinner will be held for the award winners, families and educators at Kings River Winery on May 14, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
