FCC instructor awarded USDA fellowship
Nutrition instructor Ricarda Cerda to meet with federal officials in Washington
Ricarda Cerda, FCC nutrition instructor, has been awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s E. (Kika) de La Garza Fellowship. The fellowship awards faculty members at institutions of higher education across the nation with full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more, such as Fresno City College. Twenty fellows were selected, according to the USDA, “based on the compatibility of their research interests with USDA mission areas and the value their experience with the Department would add to their institution’s curriculum.”
Eligio “Kika” de la Garza
The E. (Kika) de la Garza Fellowship is named for Texas U.S. Representative Eligio “Kika” de la Garza. Elected to Congress in 1965, de la Garza spent the next 32 years working to overhaul the agricultural lending system, implement federal farm crop insurance, and develop commodity futures reform. He also played a significant role in reorganizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and establishing numerous aid packages for American and international agriculture.
Ricarda will spend time in Washington meeting with USDA officials and personnel from federal agencies including the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of State. Areas of discussion include student outreach and retention, career opportunities, and grants and funding opportunities. The primary benefit is the networking information Ricarda will be able to share with colleagues and students at FCC. The closer relationship between Fresno City College and the national agencies will provide a range of opportunities.
According to the USDA, the partnerships created by this program better prepare both the USDA and the fellows’ Hispanic-serving institutions to “address educational challenges faced by the Hispanic community and to promote services and employment opportunities offered by USDA agencies while diversifying the Department’s workforce.”
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