The Wine Society of Texas 501(c)3 announces $10,000 in Scholarship Grant Awards

The Wine Society of Texas 501(c)3 announces $10,000 in Scholarship Grant Awards

The Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, is pleased to announce that it will be awarding grants totaling $10,000 in support of four individuals from around the State. These  individuals are: (a) attending institutions in the State of Texas, (b) studying viticulture and oenology, or (c) pursuing winery internships in Texas, or (d) involved with Texas winemaking or field studies / wine education, or (e) involved in promoting the education of grape growing and winemaking in the State of Texas.

This scholarship assistance program is consistent with the founding ideas of WST and its continued mission to enhance the appreciation of wines, foster the knowledge of enology and viticulture, support charitable activities, and educate wine consumers throughout the State of Texas. The funding for the WST Scholarship Grant Program is provided through charitable donations, local WST Chapter fundraising events, and annual statewide wine events.

Following this year’s award recipients:

$3,500 Jim Evans, Winemaker Grant is awarded to Madison Hawkins. Ms.Hawkins is an undergraduate student at Texas A&M majoring in Agriculture Economics with a minor in Horticulture. She is also working on obtaining certification in Enology and Professional Event Management. Her long-range goal is to own her own vineyard and ultimately a winery.

$2,500 Duchman Family Winery Grant is awarded to Tyler Buddemeyer. Mr. Buddemeyer is currently working towards his winemaking certification at Texas Tech University at Fredericksburg and will begin the Viticulture Certification program in the fall of 2017. His long-term goal is to ultimately own his own vineyard and winery.

$2,000 Russell Kane Grant is awarded to Carlos Elizondo

Mr. Elizondo is a graduate student at Texas A&M pursuing a Master of Science degree in Horticulture with an emphasis on enology and sensory science. Through the use of sensory science, he wants to help Texas wineries improve the quality and consistency of their wines.

$2,000 Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo Grant is awarded to Diane Clemehagen. Ms. Clemenhagen is currently a wine buyer and educator in Austin, Texas. She has passed the Court of Sommeliers Certified Exam and is working towards advance Level 3 certification. Her current plans are to tour and study wine regions in Europe and write about best techniques and farming practices.

Ms. Clemenhagen is currently a wine buyer and educator in Austin, Texas. She has passed the Court of Sommeliers Certified Exam and is working towards advance Level 3 certification. Her current plans are to tour and study wine regions in Europe and write about best techniques and farming practices. Long-term goal is to acquire property in the Austin area to create a vineyard, farm and event center. In addition to growing grapes, she would like to educate her guests and school children on the aspects of grape growing and while promoting the Texas wine industry.

This is the fifteenth year that the WST has provided grant assistance through the Scholarship Grant Program providing over $67,000 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 theTexas wine industry.” said Ms. Shirley Choate, State President of the WST.

For more information about the scholarship grant program or the WST please visit the website at www.winesocietyoftexas.org or contact WST by phone (713-705-8574).

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.