The Wine Society of Texas Announces Scholarship Grant Program
The Wine Society of Texas will provide up to $10,000 in assistance to worthy students or individuals pursuing wine and winery education, internship, field study, research work, grape growing, wine making and marketing in the state of Texas.
On Tuesday, February 4, 2020 The Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501c3 non-profit educational organization announced that it will be 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 based on the quality of requests in the amount totaling up to $10,000. The scholarship program is consistent with the founding idea of WST and its continuing mission to help 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 program continues to support talented individuals, attending Texas institutions, who will be the future of the wine and hospitality industry in Texas as the appreciation and reputation of Texas wines and wineries continue to expand both locally and nationally. ”
WST has awarded over $87,000 in grants over the past 17 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 pursuing Viticulture, Horticulture, Winemaking 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 April 6, 2020. 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 a 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 on or about May 1, 2020.
The Wine Society of Texas, headquartered in Midland, Texas, was started in 1996 and received its 501(c) 3 non-profit status, in 1999. It has about 150 members 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. It organizes events that promote appreciation of wine through education in a comfortable social setting. The WST offers annual grants from its Scholarship Fund to assist in wine education, internships and field training.
Here are list of the 2019 Scholarship Recipients:
Wine Society of Texas 2020
Applicant Criteria and Requirements
- Applicant must be a student 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 Wine Industry.
- Applicant could be employed in the Texas wine industry (winemaking, grape growing, vineyard management, marketing or in the hospitality industry (sommelier or restaurant management) in Texas while continuing their education in the Texas wine industry
- 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.
- 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.
Here are list of the 2019 Scholarship Recipients:
$3,800 James F. Whitley Founder’s Grant is awarded to Madison Hawkins.
“Ms. Hawkins is a senior at Texas A&M majoring in Agriculture Economics and a
minor in Horticulture/Enology. Her long term goal is to own her own vineyard/event venue near the Lubbock area. Ms. Hawkins was a 2017 WST Jim Evans, Winemaker Grant and a 2018 James F. Whitley Founder’s Grant recipient. “
$3,000 Russell Kane Grant is awarded to Tiffany Brooke Farrell.
Ms. Farrell will begin pursuing a winemaking certificate from Texas Tech University this upcoming fall. She has a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Microbiology from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Master of Science in Hydrologic Sciences from Boise State. She’s currently winemaker/outside sales manager for Haak Vineyards and Winery. She wants to continue as a passionate Texas Winemaker and be recognized as a go to professional in the field.
$2,000 Paul and Merill Bonarrigo Grant is awarded to Emily Talley
Ms.Talley is currently pursuing a degree in Plant and Soil Science- Viticulture & Enology at Texas Tech University. She has an undergraduate degree in International Business and a Master’s Degree in the Science of Accounting. Her long term goal is to play a major role in turning family owned land into a functional vineyard with up to 10 acres of grape vines.
$1,200 Les Constable Memorial Grant awarded to Sarah Timmons
As a working mom, Mrs. Timmons is working to complete her graduate degree in Viticulture and Wine Tourism/Marketing at Texas Tech. She currently holds an undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Horticulture from Texas Tech. Upon graduation, her goal is to work alongside family members at their family-owned vineyard in Estacado, Texas, known for their award-winning Primitivo grapes, and to continue growing their new High Plains winery, Adelphos Cellars.