Congratulation to Marlene Hepner, recipient of a California State Florist Association scholarship to attend Reflections, Palm Springs. Marlene is the oldest of four daughters. Her parents, Peggy and Kirk Stout, taught their girls that education is powerful. Marlene embraced this philosophy after experiencing life through Agriculture classes and as a member of the FFA during her years at Calaveras High School in San Andreas, CA. Through participation in supervised Agricultural Experiences and FFA-sponsored community improvement activities, and by taking active roles in leadership positions in her local program, and eventually in sectional and regional positions, Marlene grew to love the FFA and understand that education can change lives. She carried that belief with her to Fresno State where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education followed by an agriculture specialist credential.
Marlene’s tenure as an agriculture teacher in the Tracy Unified School District began when she accepted a position at the then single person agriculture program at Merrill West High School in August of 1999. That year the program educated 110 students through four different courses with the use of one garden shed and a block grant that Marlene applied for that allowed her to add a greenhouse to the facility. Marlene saw a greater need in her campus community though. She became a strong advocate for the Merrill F. West FFA program.
Through her leadership, the program has since grown to its current iteration that includes 6 teachers, 710 students and 6 pathways of educational exploration and growth for those students. Over the years, her students, their activities and community involvement have garnered both state and national recognition within the FFA program. Marlene has never lost track of those early life lessons. She knows that the education she and her colleagues offer opens innumerable doorways of opportunity to her students.
She also knows that education must extend beyond the walls of the classroom and the fences of the farm laboratory. To that end, Marlene advocates for not only her students but other members of the community who are in need. Since arriving in Tracy, Marlene has been an active participant with the McHenry House, serving at times in a leadership role as well as being a willing worker at the numerous activities, fundraisers and projects that McHenry House runs as it seeks to care for the people of Tracy.
Through all of these roles, Marlene maintains one core belief: Education can change a person’s life. She is a lifelong learner and works diligently every day to bring that change to those around her.
