Farmworker's Son Wins $25K to Attend UC Berkeley

A Bakersfield high school graduate who spent his summer breaks working in California's grape fields just earned a $25,000 scholarship to attend UC Berkeley.

Eric Ventura learned in August that he won the California Table Grape Scholarship after applying last October. The award will cover expenses across all four years of his undergraduate education at his dream school.

For Ventura, the scholarship meant more than just financial relief. "I instantly thought about my parents and thought, I kind of felt relieved because I feel like it made me feel like all my hard work and efforts, like, they paid off," he said.

That hard work included waking up early during summer breaks to work in the fields with his family. "Past three years, I've dedicated my summers going to work with them in order to help like my mom and stuff," Ventura explained.

While Ventura always knew he wanted to attend a four-year university, the path forward wasn't always clear. That changed when he connected with Youth 2 Leaders, a nonprofit that helps students navigate college applications and financial aid.

The organization took Ventura on a field trip to UC Berkeley that changed everything. "I stepped out the bus. Like, I instantly knew, like, I see myself here. I just loved the atmosphere. I loved the buildings. I loved everything about it," he recalled.

Youth 2 Leaders became instrumental in making that dream feel achievable. "They introduced me to scholarships, financial aid, so many options that I had, and they made college feel achievable to me," Ventura said.

The Ripple Effect

Ventura's story highlights how targeted support can transform educational access for first-generation college students. Youth 2 Leaders didn't just help one student. They showed a young farmworker that the path from California's fields to one of the nation's top universities was possible with the right guidance and resources.

The scholarship also recognizes the contributions of agricultural workers' families to California's economy. By supporting students like Ventura, the California Table Grape industry invests in the next generation while honoring the community that sustains it.

Ventura heads to UC Berkeley in late August, eager to begin this new chapter and explore the opportunities waiting for him.