The Wine Society of Texas Announces 2017 Scholarship Grant Program

The Wine Society of Texas will provide up to $10,000 in assistance for the wine education, internship or field study, and appreciation of wine through education.

On Tuesday April 25, 2017, The Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501c3 non-profit educational organization announced that it is accepting applications for its annual Scholarship Grant Program. In order to apply for the grant, individuals must be: (a) attending institutions in the State of Texas studying viticulture and oenology, or (b) pursuing winery internships in Texas, or (c) involved with Texas winemaking or field studies / wine education, or (d) involved in promoting the education of grape growing and wine making in the State of Texas. Grants may be given depending on the quality of requests in the amount totaling up to $10,000 by the WST. The scholarship program is consistent with the founding idea of WST and its continuing mission to promote Texas winemakers and grape growers, enhance the appreciation of wines, foster the knowledge of oenology and viticulture, and support charitable activities.

According to Ms. Shirley Choate, WST President, “The WST Scholarship program offers financial assistance for tuition, books, or for related travel expenses for individuals registered or in a program of study with a Texas university or college offering accredited courses in viticulture or oenology. Financial assistance can also be provided for winery internships in Texas or for Texas winemaker studies. The funding for the WST Scholarship program is provided from charitable donations, local WST Chapter fund raising events, and various WST statewide wine events such as the wine education seminars. Our scholarship supports local Texas wine talent, which will be the future of the Texas wine and hospitality industry. This year we are honored that Duchman Family Winery has chosen us to make a charitable donation towards our scholarship program."

WST has awarded over $57,000 in grants over the past 14 years. The awards have been used for a variety of purposes - research for the Texas wine industry including Pierce’s disease, Wine Symposium and Conferences, financial assistance for students attending Viticulture or Hotel Management programs, wine sommelier studies, wine marketing and authors of books on the Texas Wine Industry.

 The WST will be accepting applications up to June 25, 2017.  All applications must be returned by this date, fully completed and with all necessary documents, to The Wine Society of Texas. Applicants are required to fill out the WST Scholarship Application, which will be reviewed by the WST Scholarship Committee.  The committee may recommend single or multiple awards depending on the quality of applications received. All decisions will be final and applying does not guarantee receiving a grant. The WST scholarship award(s) will be announced in the summer of 2017.

2017 Scholarship Application

Following is a summary of last year’s award recipients:

$2,500 James F. Whitley Founder’s Grant is awarded to Amanada Hu. Ms.Hu will be completing graduate study and research in wine marketing and education at Conrad N. Hilton College at University of Houston. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 2013, with a minor in Wine and Spirits Management and Marketing

 

 

$2,500 Russell D. Kane Grant is awarded to Sherah Mills. Ms. Mills is currently a graduate student at Texas Tech University where she is studying powdery mildew on grapevines.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science, specializing in Viticulture and Enology in 2015.

 

 

$2,000 Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo Grant is awarded to Michael Hellman. Mr. Hellman is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University in Plant and Soil Science with a specialization in Viticulture and Enology.  

 

 

 

$1,250 Grant is awarded to Shane Rolen.  Mr. Rolen is a Marine Corps veteran who graduated from West Texas A&M with a degree in Marketing and Management. He is currently pursuing a two year Texas Viticulture Certificate program at Texas Tech in Fredericksburg

 

 

 

$1,000 Grant is awarded to Samuel Smith.  Mr. Smith will be pursuing WSET Level 2 certification at  Texas Tech University in Fredericksburg. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M in 2014 with a degree in Biology.

 

 

 

$750 Grant is awarded to Daniela DaSuta. Ms. DaSuta is pursuing WSET Level 4 Diploma program. She is a 2011 graduate from University of Texas majoring in Spanish.

 

 

 

This is the fifteenth year that the WST has provided grant assistance through the Scholarship Grant Program providing over $57,000 in total.  “The Wine Society is pleased to continue its long tradition of providing meaningful scholarships to worthy individuals. This is our way of “going local” to support Texas talent and invest in the future of Texas wine.” said Ms. Shirley Choate, State President of the WST. 

 

 About the Wine Society

The Wine Society of Texas (www.winesocietyoftexas.org), headquartered in Midland, Texas, was started in 1996 and received its 501(c) 3 non-profit status in 1999. It has over 150 members in three chapters around the State of Texas. The WST mission is: to enhance the appreciation of wine, especially Texas wines; educate the experienced as well as the beginning wine taster; promote the wine makers, and grape growers; foster the knowledge of oenology and viticulture; help in charitable activities throughout the state of Texas; and promote the responsible consumption of wine. The WST organizes events that promote appreciation of wine through education in a comfortable social setting with the aim of building an educated and responsible wine culture in Texas. The WST is focused on the consumers of wine in the State of Texas, providing consumer feedback to wineries, and is actively working with organizations and wineries in the State on various education programs.