The Wine Society of Texas Announces Scholarship Grant Program
The Wine Society of Texas Announces Scholarship Grant Program
The Wine Society of Texas again 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 10, 2018, 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.”
WST has awarded over $67,000 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 20, 2018. 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 2018.
Applicant Criteria and Requirements
· Applicant must be enrolled at an accredited Texas college or university in the areas of winemaking, grape growing, vineyard management, wine marketing, or any other fields of study related to the Texas Wine Industry.
· Applicant must be enrolled at an accredited Texas college or university in the areas of hospitality (sommelier or restaurant management).
· Applicant must be employed in the Texas Wine Industry (winemaking, grape growing, vineyard management or any applicable areas associated with the industry) or in the hospitality industry in Texas (sommelier or restaurant management).
· If currently enrolled in a Texas college or university, applicant must have completed one year of study and maintained a minimum 2.5 GPA.
· Applicants are required to provide certified records of previous education including high school records.
· Applicants are required to submit a letter of recommendation(s) from a professor, educator, or current employer.
· Applicants are required to complete all parts of the application to be considered.
· All finalists will be required to participate in a 15 minute interview.
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.
