The Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep program’s 90 graduates celebrated their accomplishments as the inaugural class in the program.
At the Aug. 11 celebration at the Wonderful College Prep Academy in Delano, Calif., Wonderful Company co-owners Stewart and Lynda Resnick congratulated the students, who graduated with associate of science degrees along with their high school diploma, according to a news release.
“Our Ag Prep graduates are the pioneers of a new way to look at high school and college education,” Lynda Resnick said in the release. “These kids are living, breathing inspirations of what’s possible when smart kids are given a fair and equal opportunity.”
More than 1,000 students are enrolled in the program at seven high schools. Besides their regular schoolwork, participants take classes taught by college professors and earn college credit. They’re also immersed in “real-world work experiences” at the Wonderful Company and other agriculture businesses, according to the release.
Students complete internships and learn about agriculture technology, plant science, business management and other industry disciplines.
Most of the Ag Prep graduates plan on attending four-year universities, and one-third want to study ag business or plant sciences, meaning they’ll enter college as juniors with their associate degrees.
The Wonderful Company created Wonderful Education, which serves 55,000 students in 24 school districts in California’s Central Valley to improve educational opportunities, according to the release. Programs include scholarships, school grants, summer camps, early childhood programs and teacher development.
The Wonderful Company’s brands include POM Wonderful juices, Wonderful Pistachios and Halos-brand mandarins.
