Wine Society of Texas Announces Scholarship Grant Program Awards

Midland, Texas (28 August 2015) – The Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, announced that it is awarding grants totaling $7,000 in support of four individuals from around the State.

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 oenology and viticulture, support charitable activities, and educate wine consumers throughout the State of Texas. The funding for the WST Scholarship Grant Program is provided from charitable donations, local WST Chapter fund raising events, and annual statewide wine events and competitions.

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

$3,000 James F. Whitley Founder’s Grant is awarded to Brent Pape. Mr. Pape is pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural Education at Texas –Tech University, Lubbock with an emphasis on Viticulture extension/education. Mr. Pape was a 2014 Russell D. Kane grant winner.

$2,000 Russell D. Kane Grant is awarded to Albre Abi Brown. Ms. Brown is currently doing graduate study research in the Plant Pathology and Microbiology Department at Texas A&M, concentrating on fungal trunk diseases that affect grapevines.

$1,500 Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo Grant is awarded to Demi Matar. Ms. Matar is currently pursuing a Winemaking certificate at Texas Tech in Fredericksburg while working at one of Texas finest wineries in Fredericksburg.

$500 Grant is awarded to Helena Cheng. Ms. Cheng is currently pursuing a certificate from the Texas Wine School, after having obtained WSET Level 3 certificate in London in 2014.

This is the eleventh year that the WST has provided grant assistance through the Scholarship Grant Program providing over $47,000 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.

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