The Santa Maria High School agricultural program recently won two state awards at the California Teachers Association Annual Awards Banquet at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.
The program was named Outstanding Large School Program and Overall Outstanding Agriculture Program for 2017, according to a press release from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
The department, which consists of eight agricultural teachers, approximately 1,000 students, staff, administration, and a district office, will now represent California at the Western Region Division One of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) awards competition, according to the release.
Those results will be announced at the NAAE convention this December in Nashville, Tenn.
“It feels great to win these awards this year,’’ Co-Department Chair Marc DeBernardi said in the release. “Our program has been a very good program for many years, but to be recognized by your peers as the top agriculture program in California out of 330 programs in the state is very special. We have great community, parent support, and alumni participation, all which contribute to a successful education model and program.’’
This article appears in Aug 17-24, 2017.