SANGER — The Valley Regional Occupational Program has announced that 22 of the top-performing high school seniors from eight area school districts have earned the Student Ambassador Award and scholarship.
According to Valley ROP, the ambassador award winners are the equivalent of academic valedictorians. These lucky students had the opportunity to share this honor with their families and educators at a special dinner and ceremony on May 13 at the Kings River Winery in Sanger.
“Selection for this scholarship goes beyond grades and technical skill,” said VROP Superintendent Fabrizio Lofaro in the announcement. “We recognize well-rounded students who lead, persevere and are committed to growth. Recipients demonstrate a clear intention to continue their CTE pathway — whether through college, trade training or direct entry into the workforce — and show the potential to make a meaningful impact in their industry and community.”
This prestigious award for high school seniors was designed to recognize the top percentage of students who are excelling in one or more of the many CTE programs offered through Valley ROP. Students were selected as recipients of the award from 59 nominees for their outstanding leadership, responsibility and trustworthiness during their time spent with Valley ROP.
Valley ROP’s courses are concentrated in industry sectors as identified by the state of California. The announcement explained that this years’ winners showed unparalleled performance in programs from a variety of pathway sectors including Engineering and Manufacturing, Building and Construction trades, Health Sciences, CNA and Patient Care, Arts, Media and Entertainment, Ag and Natural Resources, Urban and Rural Fire Fighting, Hospitality and Floral Design.
Nominations were prepared by Valley ROP instructors earlier this year and students compiled individual applications which they submitted for review at the end of the fall semester. The packets were screened and judged by an Ambassador Advisory Committee made up of school administrators, teachers and business community members. Each application was read twice by committee members and the highest scores in each sector were calculated.
The 2026 Student Ambassadors by the school district are: Luz Garcia Ayala of Corcoran High School; Antonio Cortez and Karyme Lupian Granados of Orosi High School; Leslie Soto Contreras and Boysie Campo of Dinuba High School; Aubrey Winters, Grace Fan and Jennifer Juarez of Kingsburg High School; Andres Razo and Isabella Lucero of Reedley High School; Kayla Garcilazo and Adamira Mariscal of Orange Cove High School; Brianna Andrade Madrigal and Nevaeh Coronado of Parlier High School; Evan Her and Jacqueline Sanchez of Sanger High School; Katelynn Jones and Sierra Manangan of Sanger West High School and Jonathan Castro of Kings River High School; and Davian Castillo and Jayden Garcia of Selma High School.
The remaining students who were nominated were also recognized for their dedication and contributions to their Valley ROP courses with certificates of honorable mention.
“These students have demonstrated remarkable dedication and their efforts should be celebrated,” said Lofaro in his statement. “Earning an honorable mention is a testament to their hard work, talent and commitment. They truly deserve recognition for their outstanding accomplishments.”
The Valley Regional Occupational Program was established in 1971 as a Joint Powers Agreement ROP between Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba, Kings Canyon, Kingsburg Joint Union High School, Parlier, Sanger and Selma school districts and functions as a separate school district within the Fresno County Office of Education. It currently serves more than 11,000 of the area’s career technical education students.
