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Setton Pistachio recently awarded more than $17,000 in scholarships to high school students participating in the annual Setton Earth Day art contest. Seven students from Porterville-area high schools entered paintings, sculptures, videos and other creative projects that focused on sustainability in the Central Valley.
Entries were required to use pistachio kernels or shells in their artwork.
More than 50 entries were submitted to Setton and judged at the company’s main processing facility by a panel of Setton employees, school representatives and local leaders.
Award winners were honored at an awards luncheon at Harmony Magnet Academy.
Thirteen prizes were awarded, including $5,000 to the first-place winner; $2,500 to the second-place winner; $1,000 each to five third-place winners; $750 each to five honorable mentions; and a special recognition award of $750.
Additionally, all other participating students received a $250 award.
The 2026 recipients are: first place, Katlin Valencia-Andrade (Harmony Magnet Academy); second place, Jocelyn Carranza (Monache High School); third places, Mollie Gillis (Harmony Magnet Academy), Pheobe Hoffarth (Summit Collegiate High School), Lucero Corona (Harmony Magnet Academy), Isabela Cross (Harmony Magnet Academy) and Elizabeth Moreno (Strathmore High School).
“We couldn’t be prouder of awarding scholarships to exemplary local seniors who put enormous time and effort into understanding the positive impact of sustainable farming and can use that knowledge to guide their future endeavors,” said Setton Pistachio COO Mia Cohen.
Setton launched its College Education Scholarship Program in 2016 and has awarded more than 215 scholarships to employees, local community members and students worth more than $256,000.
Cecilia Parsons | Associate Editor
Cecilia Parsons has lived in the Central Valley community of Ducor since 1976, covering agriculture for numerous agricultural publications over the years. She has found and nurtured many wonderful and helpful contacts in the ag community, including the UCCE advisors, allowing for news coverage that focuses on the basics of food production.
She is always on the search for new ag topics that can help growers and processors in the San Joaquin Valley improve their bottom line.
In her free time, Cecilia rides her horse, Holly in ranch versatility shows and raises registered Shetland sheep which she exhibits at county and state fairs during the summer.