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Hercules Gonsalves

475

Bold Points

3x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

My life goals consist of graduating college with a degree in Agricultural Engineering and working in a field that revolutionizes the agricultural industry. I have always had a passion in agriculture and engineering but never thought of perusing a field that incorporates both. I was an active member of 4H from third grade up until high school where I started FFA. Along with working on mechanical aspects of agriculture, I enjoy exhibiting animals. I've raised chickens, Boer goats, hogs, and pygmy goats all to exhibit at the local fair. Although FFA is a big part of my life, sports are too. I have worked up to being a member of the varsity Track and Field team, where I compete in high jump, long jump, hurdles, and pole vault. Being an involved student athlete is the most significant aspect of myself that puts me apart from the rest because I have learned about the most competitive traits such as commitment, dedication, and perseverance.

Education

Sanger High

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Agricultural Engineering
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Machinery

    • Dream career goals:

    • Lifeguard

      Wild Water Adventure Park
      2022 – 2022

    Sports

    Track & Field

    Varsity
    2014 – Present10 years

    Awards

    • Scholar athlete, Varsity rising star, Most improved

    Research

    • Present

    Arts

    • Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Sanger 4H — Worker
      2019 – 2021
    Mark Suren Melkonian Memorial Scholarship
    Winner
    Sanger 4H and FFA have been big shaping factors in my life. My involvement in these clubs dates back to when I was in just third grade. I started exhibiting dairy goats with my friends just for the fun of it while the Sanger 4H club was just starting to form. I started to get more involved over time, we started doing community service at the veteran's hospital, decorating for Christmas time to make the mourning environment a little more festive and fun. Along with that, a smaller group of club members including myself would put together baskets for the veterans which included necessities such as soap, clothing, entertainment, and more. This is when I started to learn that 4H and FFA don't consist of just farming, but so much more. My involvement stayed strong, I started showing more animals, after dairy goats I raised a hog, a Boer goat, and a chicken. I achieved first place in showmanship and third place at Round Robin with my chicken. I participated in animal judging competitions, public speaking competitions and more. Once I was promoted from 4H to FFA, it opened my eyes to careers in agriculture. I have been lucky enough to be a part of the POM Wonderful agricultural mechanics pathway at Sanger High school. This pathway is the best choice I have made academically because I have learned that there is a whole mechanical aspect to agriculture. Ever since I was younger, I have always been fascinated by how things are made and how things function within each other. Within this pathway, we were taught numerous subjects such as fabrication, welding, learning how an engine works, and electrical. I've enjoyed being a part of this pathway and learning so many trades that not everyone has the option to do in high school, I've learned so much that I've decided to choose a major in college through the agricultural field. I want to go into agricultural system technology, which is based on revolutionizing the mechanical aspect of agriculture. One experience that has further solidified my decision is taking a trip to the World Ag Expo. Every year our pathway has the opportunity to take a trip and spend the day there. A specific exhibit that caught my eye was the self-driving tractors. It was interesting learning about how the self-propelled tractors know where they are and when to perform specific functions. I want to eventually be the one manufacturing and working on these new-age technologies such as self-driving tractors.