S2OPA2 addresses the region's local health disparities by undertaking two challenges in the desert southwest's border region. (1) Overall health and health literacy of those residing in Yuma and Imperial Counties continue to be low. Many roles traditionally held by dietetics professionals in the community remain vacant or are filled by paraprofessionals due to the significant challenges of recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural areas. (2) Limited experiential learning. The distance Bachelors of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences is offered in a 2+2 format partnering with Arizona Western College and Imperial Valley College the first two years. The distance Bachelors of Science final two years in Nutritional Science is offered to the underserved region of Yuma and Imperial Counties through 100% online courses, limiting hands-on experiential learning in the upper level junior/senior critical developmental years. Gardening, cooking, and sustainable food systems experiential education are not currently part of the distance dietetic curriculum. Instead, students complete self-guided activities at home, resulting in inequitable access to materials, facilities, and oversight. The S2OPA2 objective is to increase the number of students completing the Nutritional Sciences bachelor's degree (BS) and earning dietetics credentials (NDTR/RDN) at The University of Arizona-Yuma (UArizona-Yuma)1 campus (10 students/cohort) through the development of farm-to-table food as medicine experiential learning activities addressing regional food safety, food security, food production, incorporation of local cuisine, and cooking traditions. S2OPA2 answers the urgent need to develop a pipeline training for nutrition and dietetics professionals as an innovative educational model that employs culturally responsive teaching, mentoring, and training approaches. More specifically, this model implements experiential learning interventions as an evidenced-based way to address Hispanic college students' perceived barriers related to awareness, opportunity, and achievement (AOA). The S2OPA2 program capitalizes on local culture, traditions, and the regional specialty crop agriculture industry in farm-to-table food as medicine experiential learning activities. In partnership with the agriculture industry and community stakeholders, upper-level students will learn about food safety, food security, food production, local health disparities, and local food culture.a. Potential for Advancing Quality of Education The S2OPA2 Program -- proposed by The University of Arizona,2 The University of Arizona Yuma, and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) -- is an innovative educational model aimed at increasing the number and diversity of nutritional professionals through employing culturally-responsive approaches to teaching, mentoring and training, and implementing experiential learning interventions. By addressing Hispanic college students' perceived barriers of awareness, opportunity, and achievement (AOA)3, this project addresses the following Priority Need Areas: (1) Increase opportunities and access into careers related to FANH; (2) Produce skilled, diverse graduates prepared to work at the intersection of nutrition, food, and human health; and (3) Increase participation of individuals historically underrepresented in USDA FANH-HSI mission areas by contributing to the strengthening of the educational pipeline for nutrition and dietetics professionals. The S2OPA2 program addresses the lack of a diverse pipeline of educated and skilled STEM professionals to improve students' access and success in higher education opportunities in the STEM areas of agriculture, food, natural resources, science, health, and other related disciplines.