Before graduating from the University of Arizona Yuma with a master’s degree in Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, Nick was a student at Arizona Western College.

He then transferred to the University of Arizona Yuma to graduate magna cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Plant Systems. Today, he works as the Special Projects Manager in the Fabrication Department of Keithly- Williams Seed Co., in Yuma, where he designs all of the planters and transplanters in the company building, ensuring that farmers have the capabilities to plant crops in the most efficient and innovative ways possible.

Born and raised in Yuma, Nick was always fascinated with agriculture, from being a young boy obsessed with tractors, to watching his father work as a mechanic at local farms, to learning how farms function up close.

After working for a local irrigation district, he chose to attend college, and eventually graduate from the University of Arizona Yuma to further his career path in agriculture. His goal was to not only be involved in the field but to help advance it in innovative ways. His favorite part about his career path is now having the ability to design new equipment ideas and continue to advance the industry.

Sergio graduated from the University of Arizona Yuma with a master’s degree in Systems Engineering. His graduation project was an analysis of the different factors affecting battery performance and life.

This experience led him to his current profession with Johnson Controls in Yuma, Arizona, where he serves as a quality engineer, working with a wide range of staff to monitor, test, and inspect products that reach a wide range of customers across the U.S.

Along with quality control, Sergio is the environmental coordinator and trained auditor for the Yuma facility – requiring the implementation and sustainability of environmental management systems, along with coordination of programs, procedures and policies, and training.

He currently works on energy and sustainability projects for his plant, in addition to temperature control projects for quality specifications to meet desired production rates.

Ralph’s path through the University of Arizona Yuma began as an Agriculture Science student at Arizona Western College.

Always fascinated by agriculture, he chose to pursue his degree with the University of Arizona Yuma and surround himself with experiences related to the local agriculture industry. He graduated with a bachelor’s in Agriculture Technology & Management. Currently, Ralph works for Dow Chemical and AgroSciences, and he attributes meeting his employer and obtaining his current position through the volunteer and internship experiences he had in college.

As a sales representative for both Crop Protection and PhytoGen Cottonseed for Yuma County, Imperial County (California) and Coachella, he works directly with local farmers to make sure the products they use through Dow are achieving the best results.

He serves on numerous boards and committees, including the California Association of PCA’s Desert Valley Chapter, the University of Arizona’s IPM Committee and the University of Arizona’s Resistance Management Committee.

With the help of 14 scholarships, Elene graduated debt-free from the University of Arizona Yuma with her bachelor’s in Sustainable Plant Systems.

While obtaining her degree, and before dedicating her career to agriculture and public health, Elene developed a successful house flipping business during her time in school. Within her time at the University of Arizona Yuma, Elene was featured as a Winning Wildcat on Scholarship Universe and won the University of Arizona's Outstanding Senior Award. After graduation, Elene was hired as a manager at Yuma County Citrus Pest Control District and is the coordinator for Yuma’s first Citrus Health Management Area. She is in training to become a manager at the Yuma County Pest Abatement District. Within all of these roles, she oversees how diseases in plants and bugs can influence both citrus life and public health.