Dave Goorahoo named recipient of IA 2024 Excellence in Education Award
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (Aug. 5, 2024) — The Irrigation Association is excited to announce that Dave Goorahoo, PhD, of California State University, Fresno is the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Education Award. This award recognizes an outstanding educator who teaches irrigation, water management and/or water conservation and has a commitment to not only elevating the level of education but also promoting the field of irrigation as a viable and sustainable career to students.
Dave Goorahoo has been with California State University, Fresno for 24 years, starting as a research soil scientist for the Center for Irrigation Technology and then moving to education where he is currently a vegetable crops production professor in the department of plant science. During his time at CSU, Goorahoo has developed and taught many irrigation-related courses, developed irrigation training materials and programs, and incorporated strategies to raise awareness of irrigation career opportunities for his students. His friendly, approachable demeanor enhances his impact as an educator. By quickly connecting and engaging with students, he is able to encourage them to think critically, foster their individual skills and potential, and support their academic and professional development.
“Dave Goorahoo has shown an extraordinary commitment and dedication to the success of his students and the future workforce of the irrigation industry,” said IA CEO Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE. “His passion for irrigation and education is contagious, and his commitment to fostering excellence in the next generation of irrigation professionals is truly inspring.”
Goorahoo has been an active IA member and a strong supporter of the IA’s workforce development initiatives. He has been a Faculty Academy presenter and continually encourages his students to participate in the Irrigation E3 and scholarship programs. He currently serves on the IA Education Advisory Group and has volunteered as an author for IA publications. Goorahoo continually endeavors to improve his ability as an educator by following his major guiding principle: “to be a good teacher, one must first be a better student.”
“I am honored and humbled to be the recipient of the Irrigation Association 2024 Excellence in Education Award,” said Goorahoo. “Over the past 25 years, I have been truly blessed to be able to have a profession that I enjoy every day while being gainfully employed. I am grateful to my colleagues, friends, family and industry stakeholders who recognize the importance, along with the many economic, social and environmental challenges, of soil and water in our global food production systems.”
The 2024 IA Awards are sponsored by Hunter | FX Luminaire | Senninger, and all 2024 recipients will be honored at the 2024 Irrigation Show and Education Week in Long Beach, California, Nov. 4-7. More information about this and other IA awards and past recipients can be found at irrigation.org/awards.