Veterans Day Student Spotlight: Sared Yim

(Nov. 11, 2021) -- Happy #VeteransDay to Fresno State plant science senior Sared Yim who proudly served our country in the Air Force as an avionics technician.

After attending Highline College he moved to the Central Valley to attend Merced College, and Fresno State was a natural next step to follow his passion for agriculture (and he is on pace to graduate next spring).

Read more about this Seatac, Washington native who is also assisting with entomology research on campus in this recent interview.

 

Q: What attracted you to attend Fresno State and your degree area?  

Yim: "Fresno State is highly acclaimed for its plant science program. Before starting here, I had zero experience in agriculture. I just really enjoy the subject and find it fascinating. I'm interested in working in conservation and insect management."

 

Q: What was your prior academic background before Fresno State?

Yim: "I decided to go into ag when I moved to the Central Valley and started to attend Merced College. I was in their plant science program to get the core classes to be able to transfer to Fresno State. I already had an associate from Highline College (in Washington). Highline didn't have ag programs, so I was studying to be in graphic design at the time." 

 

Q: What has been your most memorable classes and experiences at Fresno State? 

Yim: "The most rewarding experience so far was starting my internship at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC) as a research assistant. I’m enjoying my economic entomology and plant pathology classes, and also an Asian art history class."

 

Q: Give us a little more background on the research experience.

Yim: "Dr. (Jacob) Wenger hired me for a research assistant position, so I am getting an opportunity for hands-on lab experience. I am currently helping with analyzing the gut contents of the leaf-footed bug to see where they congregate before they come into the orchards. I really want to work in integrated pest management (IPM) so this is right up that alley." 

 

Q: Give us a little more background on your armed force service as an avionics technician.

Yim: "I was stationed in Yokota, AFB in Japan and with the 99ARS out of Birmingham, Alabama. I’ve been deployed and TDY to Thailand, Guam, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia."

Yim: "As a Senior Airman (E4), I was in charge of all of our Avionics test equipment, flight controls and navigation equipment on the aircraft. In my time in the Air Force I worked on C-130s and KC-135s." 

 

Q: Have you received any scholarships at Fresno State?

Yim: "I haven’t received any scholarships, but I am enrolled in the TRIO SSSV program and get some extra grant money through them."

 

Q: What was your next career step?

Yim: "After my enlistment was over I got a job working for an aviation company and worked there for two years. My wife was also enlisted in the military, and she wanted to complete her enlistment, so from 2013 to 2019, I became a stay-at-home dad after my daughter was born. It was a unique experience that really changed the way that I viewed life."

 

Q: Are you and your family involved in any community or volunteer projects locally?

Yim: "My family and I attended a local clean-up event at Hensley Lake, and we plan to do more local beautification projects around our town of Chowchilla." 

 

Q: What's your next career step potentially?

Yim: "I plan to graduate in spring 2023, and I’m on the hunt for full-time internships for the summer. My career goal is to work for government agencies such as the USDA, APHIS, or CDFA."