WWIF Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Washington Wine Industry Foundation

Introduction — Foundation Fund and Overview
The Foundation Fund was created as an endowed fund by the Foundation Board of Directors in June 2013. With confirmation from their respective families, the original endowment was formed using the Charles Lill, Michael Manz, Glenn Coogan, John Farmer, Industry Need, and Rainy Day funds. The number of Foundation Fund scholarships awarded each year varies; awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 and support Washington State students studying viticulture, enology, wine business management at Central Washington University (CWU) or Washington State University (WSU), and V&E graduate-level food sciences.

2025 Scholarship Recipients
Alyssa Perez, Briley Ingram, Grace Dammen, Hailey Stocker, Jesse Stevens, Lilian Perry, Mackenzie Aragon, Roldan Moreno, Steven Arellano

Scholarship Descriptions

Walter J. Clore Scholarship (CLORE)
Established in 1997 by the Washington Winegrowers Association to honor Dr. Walter J. Clore, this scholarship recognizes his lifetime contributions to grape research and viticulture/enology science. Dr. Clore and his colleagues produced influential work on grape varieties, pests and diseases, mineral nutrition, irrigation, cover crops, weed control, climatology, and trellis systems — research that helped make mechanical harvesting common practice. The number of Clore Scholarships awarded each year is decided annually. Awards begin at $1,000 and are available to students pursuing any wine- or viticulture-related field.

Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Scholarship (HHH)
Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers, formed in 2005 as a nonprofit of grape growers and winemakers, established this scholarship to support education in Washington’s grape-growing and winemaking industries. Each year two $3,000 scholarships are awarded to students planning to study viticulture, enology, wine business management, or wine-related hospitality. Preference is given to applicants who live in Klickitat, Benton, or Yakima counties and whose parent(s) work in the Washington wine industry.

George & Susan Carter Scholarship (CARTER)
Created as an endowed fund in 2017 in honor of George Carter and his wife Susan, this scholarship commemorates George Carter’s collaboration with Dr. Clore and his contributions to grape varietal classification and winemaking. Carter was recognized as a Supreme Knight by the International Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine. The George & Susan Carter Scholarship provides $1,000 to a single recipient and renews automatically for up to four years. It is intended to help students of limited financial means pursue associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degrees in viticulture and enology.

Albert Don Memorial Scholarship (DON)
Established in 2021 to honor Albert Don, a longtime Prosser resident and innovative grower, this scholarship recognizes his decades-long career at Wyckoff Farms, pioneering mechanical pruning, hedging, and thinning techniques, and earning the Washington Winegrowers Association’s Grower of the Year award in 2003. The Albert Don Memorial Scholarship awards $3,000 annually to one student studying viticulture or wine business management.

Alliance of Women in Washington Wine Scholarship (AWWAW)
Founded in 2021 by the Alliance of Women in Washington Wine, this scholarship seeks to inspire and advance the next generation of women in the wine industry. One $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a female student enrolled in any viticulture- or enology-related program.

2026 Scholarship Application Instructions
If you plan to pursue higher education in viticulture, enology, or related wine industry studies, the Foundation offers multiple scholarships created by industry leaders to support your goals. For the 2026 cycle, available scholarships include:
- Albert Don Memorial Scholarship
- Alliance of Women in Washington Wine Scholarship
- Foundation Scholarship(s)
- George & Susan Carter Scholarship
- Horse Heaven Hills Scholarships
- Walter J. Clore Scholarship

You may be eligible for one or several of these awards. You only need to complete a single application to be considered for all scholarships for which you qualify. Applications are evaluated by the Scholarship Committee, which forwards recommendations to the Foundation Board of Directors for final award decisions. An application is considered complete only when all required materials are submitted by the stated deadline.

Scholarship Qualifications
Each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements and some give priority to applicants who meet particular criteria. Review the specific qualifications to identify the scholarships for which you should apply, and allow time to provide any supplemental documents that may grant you preference. Scholarship decisions are made without regard to race, sex, color, ethnic origin, religion, marital status, or physical disability.

Application — What to Prepare
Before starting the online application, gather the following information and materials:
- Overall college GPA (if currently enrolled in college)
- Overall high school GPA (if not yet enrolled in college)
- Record of extracurricular activities, awards, work experience, leadership roles, and community involvement — especially items connected to the wine industry or your intended area of study
- Estimated expenses for the 2026–2027 academic year (tuition, books, student fees, room & board, child care, etc.)
- Estimates of other funding sources expected for 2026–2027
- A 250–300 word essay written as a letter to your future self: what advice, values, goals, or reflections would you want that future version of you to remember? How do you view the world and your place in it at that future point?

Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. These letters are confidential and used only by the Foundation Scholarship Committee for scoring applications. Request letters from people who know you well and can speak to your character, achievements, and potential — for example, teachers, mentors, volunteer supervisors, or employers. It is your responsibility to ensure the Foundation receives the required letters.

Each recommendation must:
1. Be dated
2. Be addressed to the Foundation Scholarship Committee
3. State the scholarship applicant’s name
4. Describe the recommender’s relationship to the applicant (teacher, advisor, employer, etc.)
5. Include the recommender’s signature

Recommenders will upload letters directly to your online scholarship application.

Other Required Documents
To complete your application, submit the following as applicable:
- Official high school transcripts (required for freshmen or sophomores)
- Official college transcripts, including current term work (required for juniors, seniors, and graduate students)
- If a scholarship gives preference for acceptance into a wine/grape industry program, include a letter of acceptance from the program director
- If a scholarship gives preference based on parental employment in the Washington wine industry, include a letter from the parent’s employer that contains:
- Employer name and contact information
- Parent’s name, job title, and length of employment with the company

All transcripts and supporting letters can be uploaded through the scholarship application portal.

If you have questions about eligibility, required documents, or the submission process, contact the Foundation’s scholarship office for assistance.