August 21, 2025

Media Contacts:
Frank Sarmiento-Torres, HOEEP co-coordinator, 509-682-6628, fsarmiento-torres@wvc.edu
Francisco Sarmiento, HOEEP co-coordinator, 509-682-6622, fsarmiento@wvc.edu
Marcine Miller, Executive Director, Public Information Office, 509-682-6582, mmiller2@wvc.edu

The 2025 HOEEP graduates hold their graduation certificates.

Families and students gathered to celebrate graduates of Wenatchee Valley College’s Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program (HOEEP) in Kennewick on Aug. 13. Sixteen students received a certificate of completion for the HOEEP Level 3 Integrated Pest Management Technician program, shared a few words with those in attendance, and enjoyed a celebratory meal together at Columbia Park.

The camaraderie and solidarity of the group was evident and was highlighted by both professors and students alike. Upon receiving their certificates, students expressed their gratitude for the program, their instructors, and their classmates, saying they learned a lot from their professors and from each other, both in the classroom and in the field. “I learned a lot from my teachers and from every classmate—they have lots of experience,” one graduate said.

“It is amazing to see how quickly the HOEEP groups blend together; it seems like they knew each other for years!” said Professor Francisco Sarmiento. “This allows them to help and support each other and create a wonderful learning environment. They end the class with an extended network and a great group of friends!”

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Technician program, led by co-coordinators Francisco Sarmiento and Frank Sarmiento-Torres, is a highly intensive and hands-on class designed to educate and train students on the practices and principles of pest control. Some of the key information includes proper pest identification, biology, life cycles, potential damage, and learning to make an assessment to develop a control program. The foundation of IPM is to

be able to combine different control strategies to avoid depending only on chemical controls (such as the use of pesticides).

The summer cohort showed a diversity of student profiles in terms of prior education and industry experience. One student said it was “las plagas” (agricultural pests) that brought him to the program. In his work experience, he realized he needed to know more about pest management, knowledge he gained over the course of the program.

Two students who previously graduated with four-year degrees in agriculture and business commented that the HOEEP program's practical, hands-on approach helped them connect the dots between their studies, refine their skills, and learn new things. The blend of classroom and field time is a strength of the program that others acknowledged as well.

The program's co-coordinators also noted there was great industry representation among the summer cohort, with students coming from Othello, Royal City, Mattawa, Tri-Cities, Burbank, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, and Peshastin. “One of the goals of the program is to be able to visit and do scouting/report at each student's workplace, and having this diverse group gave us the opportunity to visit and learn from different areas,” said Sarmiento. “We are very thankful with our student's employers for their support, participation, and for their willingness to host our classes.”

This cohort's class officers---president, secretary, and treasurer--- were honored for their time and dedication in helping coordinate lunches and other logistics for field excursions, an important aspect of this learning community. Professor Sarmiento also shared with the audience that several graduates will continue their education in other HOEEP courses, and another student is planning on taking additional WVC classes.

Professors Sarmiento and Sarmiento-Torres concluded the ceremony with their appreciation for their students and community partners, including local farmers and orchardists. WVC celebrates the dedication of HOEEP students and professors who help ensure that agriculture in our region continues to flourish.

The program co-coordinators are currently recruiting for the fall HOEEP classes that will start in November: Level 2 Advanced Horticulture, taught in Prosser; Level 2 Advanced Viticulture, taught in Grandview; and Level 4 Farm Management, taught in Royal City.

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all students and employees and provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu.

 

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