Jordan College Welcomes Eighth Honors Cohort

The Fresno State Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology recently announced its eighth upper division honors cohort with an 11-member junior class that will focus on research related to industry and consumer topics.

The program provides scholarly, creative and motivated Jordan College students with advanced study and mentorship by select faculty. Students will take three honors seminar units and work with a faculty mentor to develop a research project.

As seniors, they will participate in three additional spring-semester honors colloquium units and present their research project to students, faculty and the campus community. 

Jordan College honor students will receive incentives such as priority registration, extended borrowing time for library materials and special recognition at commencement.

The experience also prepares students on a graduate level track by giving them important experience with research gathering, analysis and reporting methods.

Candidates, which were reviewed by the Jordan Council Honors Council, must be a Fresno State student for at least one term; have a minimum GPA of 3.5 for their last 60 units; submit a personal statement with references, writing sample and resume; and participate in a personal interview. 

The students and faculty mentors hails from four departments and include:

Agricultural Business

• Josh Heupel (Le Grand) - Public policy and agriculture topic (Dr. Serhat Asci)
• Macy Myers (Auberry) - Study related to California agriculture and wind energy feasibility and market potential (Dr. Srinivasa Konduru)
• Ashleigh Sorensen (Sanger) - Comparison of almond, citrus and stonefruit orchards based on inputs, land, soil, labor, crop prices and developmental costs (Dr. Serhat Asci)

Agricultural Education / Communications

• Jasmine Garza (Bakersfield) - Analysis of student knowledge related to the agricultural industry (Dr. Avery Culbertson) 
• Kaitlynn Linderholm (Coarsegold) - Agricultural literacy research related to platforms and audience engagement (Dr. Steve Rocca) 
• Lindsey Ryan (Hanford) - Topic related to agricultural industry perceptions / youth agricultural literacy /consumer labeling / etc. (Dr. Avery Culbertson)
• Amy Suarez (Dos Palos) - Study of student soft skill development through their involvement with the campus ag ambassador program (Dr. Sharon Freeman)
• Lindsey Swall (Tulare) - Agricultural literacy and communications topic (Dr. Steve Rocca)

 

Animal Science / Poultry Science

• Yudith Hernandez Valencia (Hilmar) - Genetic selection consequences on broiler chicken leg growth (Dr. Katy Tarrant)

Industrial Technology / Agricultural Systems

• Stephen M. Ortiz (Modesto) - Tracking greenhouse emission data from tractors and other vehicles (Dr. Athansios Alexandrou)

Viticulture and Enology

• Wen-Yin Chueh (Tapei, Taiwan) - Impact of biofungicides on Chardonnay wine fermentation quality, with relation to soil, climate, water quality, etc. (Dr. Kristy Sun)