The Washington Apple Education Foundation is working on another year of “paying it forward”, as college scholarships are once again being awarded to young people from the tree fruit industry.

loading...

“We have another really big list of scholarship recipients," said WAEF Executive Director, Jennifer Witherbee. "We’re so excited to welcome new students. This year we offered 128 scholarships to new students. And then, of course, we’re so excited to see our returning do so well, and we renewed 204 of our 2020 scholarship recipients for additional years.”

Witherbee said in total, the industry is supporting the higher education dreams of over 330 young people to a tune of $1 million in scholarships. Witherbee said the scholarships are open to any individual from a tree fruit growing state, not just Washington.

“About 80% of our scholarship recipients, pretty much year after year, are first-generation college students. And, that’s a really important group for our foundation and for the industry to get to support. These are the students of a lot of the men and women that are employed in the labor positions in the industry.”

For more on the Washington Apple Education Foundation scholarship program, check out WAEF’s Website.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

More From PNW Ag Network