Fresno State alumnus Irvin S. Arroyo was selected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California State University Water Resources and Policy Initiative (WRPI) to receive a $40,000 scholarship to pursue a doctorate in Environmental Science at University of California, Merced.

Arroyo, a native of Madera, is the first recipient of the WRPI/USDA Watershed Management Doctoral Scholarship, created to support underrepresented Hispanics and Latinos pursing post graduate degrees in the food, agriculture and natural resource sciences.

“I was filled with excitement and pride when I received the scholarship award letter,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemistry from Fresno State. He currently works as a biological science technician for the USDA Water Management Research Unit in Parlier.

“Fresno State prepared me extremely well for my career at the USDA,” Arroyo said. “The academic discipline, the interactions with fellow students and life skills learned while at Fresno State will serve me well at UC Merced and beyond.”

The scholarship is limited to students or alumni of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HIS), a designation by the U.S. Department of Education awarded to colleges and universities with a student population that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. As a recipient of this designation, Fresno State receives federal grants to expand academic offerings and programs.

For more information, contact Kathleen R. Schock, director of media and development communications, at 559.278.2756 or kschock@csufresno.edu.

Related links: