UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State sophomore Javier Moreno made history at the recent 2003 National FFA Convention by becoming the first Puerto Rican -- and the first Penn State student -- to be named National FFA President.

Moreno, 20, a Culebra, Puerto Rico native majoring in agricultural and extension education, is one of six students named to the 460,000-member organization's leadership team. After an intense selection process, which included essay writing, six interviews and a written exam, Moreno was chosen for his impressive academic records and extracurricular activities.

With nearly 7,200 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success in the science, business and technology of agriculture.

In fulfilling his duties as president, Moreno will travel more than 100,000 miles while visiting 40 states and Japan. He also will meet with leaders in business, government and education; provide personal growth and leadership training to students; set policies and serve as a spokesperson for the national organization; and promote agricultural literacy. "I hope to bring diversity to the FFA program," Moreno says. "By diversity, I'm not talking about skin color -- I'm talking about diversity of experience and diversity of knowledge.

"One of the main issues we have to address is agricultural literacy," he says. "My first agriculture teacher told me, 'Without agriculture, there is no food, and without food, there is no life.' We have to make sure that people in America and around the world know what agriculture really is about. And I think the FFA is an organization that can achieve that."

Moreno is no stranger to student involvement. Thus far in his Penn State career, he has served as a College of Agricultural Sciences Ag Advocate and as a member of the Alliance Christian Fellowship, Earth House and the Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources Association.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for this deserving young man," says James Mortensen, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "We at Penn State are thrilled with Javier's newest honor."

In order to fulfill his FFA duties, Moreno will be taking a hiatus from school and his academic responsibilities. After his year as president, he plans to return to Penn State to complete his degree, with an eye toward becoming an agricultural education teacher.

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EDITORS: Contact Javier Moreno by e-mail at jmoreno@psu.edu or contact Penn State Collegiate FFA Advisor Tiffany Hoy at 814-863-7876.

Contact:

Lori Connelly llc143@psu.edu 814-863-0416 814-863-9877 fax

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-863-9877 fax #303