BEAM Circular Announces Stanislaus County Youth Ambassador Cohort to Serve as Circular Bioeconomy Leaders
Program selects fifteen local high school students
Youth Ambassadors meet with start-up founders at the BEAM Circular office in Modesto.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2026
BEAM Circular, a leading regional nonprofit organization driving the growth of California’s circular bioeconomy, announced this month the launch of the Stanislaus County cohort of its Youth Ambassador Program, welcoming a talented group of 15 high school students who will serve as emerging leaders championing the circular bioeconomy across the Central Valley. The Youth Ambassadors were selected from a competitive pool of applicants representing high schools from across Stanislaus County.
Building on last year’s successful pilot with students from San Joaquin County, BEAM has brought the program to Stanislaus County and plans to extend it to Merced County later this fall. The program is designed to educate, immerse, and inspire the next generation of bioeconomy leaders in one of the most productive agricultural regions in the country.
The Youth Ambassador Program is a paid, multi-week experience exploring how agricultural byproducts, such as nut shells, tomato and grape pomace, and other organic wastestreams can be transformed into new bio-based products, clean energy, construction materials, food ingredients, clothing, and more. Through hands-on STEM activities, guest lectures from industry experts, and immersive site visits, students witness the circular bioeconomy in action and are exposed to different career paths offered by this emerging sector.
The cohort brings together a diverse mix of backgrounds—including agriculture, environmental science, STEM, community leadership, public policy, and the arts—with participants representing communities across Stanislaus County such as Modesto, Turlock, Patterson, Riverbank, Ceres, and Keyes.
“These fifteen young leaders embody the future of sustainable innovation in the Central Valley,” said Gloriamar Gamez, Chief Program Officer of BEAM Circular. “They’ll discover how our region’s agricultural byproducts can power a circular economy—and then take that knowledge back to their own communities. This isn’t just education. It’s empowerment.”
The program runs from April to June, culminating in a capstone presentation where students will present solutions to environmental challenges affecting their community or the broader region, and will highlight how the circular bioeconomy can address these issues. Students who complete the program will then receive paid opportunities to represent BEAM at community outreach events.
The program launched with a fireside chat featuring BEAM team members, who shared their diverse academic and career journeys, offering guidance and inspiration to Youth Ambassadors as they begin their own paths. In the second session, students collaborated with biotechnology startups from the BEAM Circular Accelerator in a unique “Layman’s Terms Pitch Session.” This exercise challenged founders to communicate their research, products, and mission in accessible language. Students then provided feedback to help refine these pitches, while gaining exposure to cutting-edge technologies, entrepreneurship, and developing skills in leadership, critical thinking, and public speaking. It was a powerful exchange—bringing together emerging innovators and the next generation of leaders.
The Youth Ambassadors will continue their learning journey through a dynamic lineup of experiences, including a tour of a plasma lab and gasifier at UC Merced, hands-on exposure to regenerative agriculture at LangeTwins Winery, a session with Mango Materials’ CEO on compostable and biodegradable plastics, and a presentation from Sustainable Conservation on practical sustainability solutions.
Hear from some of our Youth Ambassadors directly:
“This program has helped me see the Central Valley and its agricultural roots not as limitations, but as a source of strength, innovation, and community resilience.” - Valentina Zeff, Junior at Modesto High School
“This program gave me a new perspective on the Central Valley and agriculture. It allowed me to explore careers in the bioeconomy and how impactful they can be on our region. The program has deepened my interest in agriculture, even more than I already am!” - Dulse Duque Sandoval, Senior at Turlock High School
“As someone interested in pediatrics and public health, I initially didn't think this program was applicable to me. However, I'm grateful for what it's taught me about the intersection between our local environment and human health. Even though I've lived in the Central Valley all my life, I never considered how our agricultural economy shapes sustainability and health—but I've discovered these are eternally intertwined. The circular bioeconomy gives back not just to the environment, but also to us.” - Valentine Nguyen, Junior at James C. Enochs High School
This Youth Ambassador program marks just the beginning of their journey. Equipped with a foundation in the circular bioeconomy, these students will carry their knowledge and experiences back to their communities—serving as informed advocates and helping to spark broader awareness, innovation, and opportunity across the region.
2026 Stanislaus County Youth Ambassador Program Cohort:
Ruby Ruiz, Patterson High School
Adrian Vizcaino, Ceres High School
Aynura Murid, Joseph A. Gregori High School
Emma Price, Turlock High School
Adam Pham, James C. Enochs High School
Deetya Thogarucheeti, Joseph A. Gregori High School
Julianna Galvez, Patterson High School
Alan Barba, Modesto High School
Valentine Nguyen, James C. Enochs High School
Dulse Duque Sandoval, Turlock High School
Neha Prabhakar, James C. Enochs High School
Christian Ascencio, Riverbank High School
Valentina Carmel Zeff, Modesto High School
Melaina Farrens, James C. Enochs High School
Angel Garcia, John H. Pitman High School
About BEAM Circular
BEAM Circular is a nonprofit organization building California’s circular bioeconomy through shared infrastructure, partnerships, and programs that connect agriculture, manufacturing, and innovation. Based in the North San Joaquin Valley, BEAM Circular leads regional and statewide initiatives—including the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus and the CBIO Collaborative—to accelerate technologies that transform waste into valuable products and create inclusive economic opportunity. Learn more at www.beamcircular.org.
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