U.S. Department of Education Director of Hispanic Engagement for the White House Office of Public Liaison with Dept. of Education Dr. Andrea Ramirez and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program (HSINP) Program Analyst Daniel Wueste present the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program awards, to the 18 fellows this year, from schools in AZ, CA, NM, TX, and PR, in the USDA headquarters, Whitten Building, in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2019. 
<p>This fellowship program offers faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) the opportunity to work collaboratively with USDA to gain insight and understanding of the Federal Government. Through the fellowship, participants learn about opportunities that are available with USDA and other Federal Agencies for their respective institutions and their students. Fellows share their experience with students at their respective HSIs, motivating them to pursue careers in agriculture, science, research, technology, and other related fields of study. Furthermore, the fellowship strengthens and expands USDA’s partnerships with HSIs and the communities they serve. 
Awardees include:
•    Fernando Acevedo, Palo Alto College, -- SEEN
•    Austin Avwunudiogba, Stanislaus State University
•    David M. Bowen, California State University, East Bay
•    Hernan Colmenero, IDEA Public Schools
•    Sylvia De Leon, San Antonio College
•    Reetika Dhawan, Arizona Western College
•    Andrés Hernández, UC Merced
•    Norma Jimenez Hernandez, Maricopa County Community College District
•    Srinivasa Konduru, California State University, Fresno
•    Monica O. Mendez, Texas A&amp;M International University
•    María Calixta Ortiz, Ana G. Mendez University
•    Stephanie Rogus, New Mexico State University
•    Savannah Rugg, Austin Community College
•    Natalia B. Santos, University of Arizona
•    George S. Sellu, Santa Rosa Junior College
•    Andrew Sensenig, Fresno Pacific University
•    Katherine Vilchez, Grossmont College
</p>
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/48104393511/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/48104393511/</a>