Washington Wine Industry Awards $38K In Scholarships

The Washington Wine Industry Foundation awarded $38,000 in scholarships to 12 students pursuing careers in the wine industry.  The funds came through four scholarships:

Walter J. Clore Scholarship – Established in 1997 by the Washington Winegrowers Association to recognize and honor the research and lifetime achievements of this pioneering Washington vintner. Four students were awarded Clore Scholarships.

Foundation Fund Scholarship – Established in 2013 as an endowed fund by the Foundation Board of Directors. Eleven students were awarded Foundation Fund Scholarships.

Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Scholarship – Awards students from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA (American Viticulture Area representing land in Yakima, Klickitat and Benton counties). Two students were awarded the Horse Heaven Hills Scholarship.

George and Susan Carter Scholarship – Established in 2017 as an endowed fund honoring WSU researcher and winemaker George Carter and his wife Susan. One student was awarded this auto-renewing scholarship.

As far as this year's scholarship winners are concerned::

Bailey Bromiley is finishing her last year in the Walla Walla Community College Institute of Enology and Viticulture program. She intends to transfer to WSU to pursue a Bachelors of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture Systems. Growing up in a farming family in Waterville, WA, Bailey’s passion for agriculture started early but her love for viticulture developed during an internship at both a vineyard and winery. She aspires to be a vineyard manager. Bailey was awarded the George and Susan Carter Scholarship.

Crystal Kampling is a current student in the Walla Walla Community College Institute of Enology and Viticulture program. After leaving her professional dance career with the Seattle Sea Gals, Crystal found a passion for wine while working in the food and beverage industry. She decided to study viticulture and after stepping in the College Cellars vineyards, a new passion developed. Currently, she works in the Tasting Room at Long Shadows Vintners and is an aspiring vineyard manager. Crystal was awarded the Walter J. Clore Scholarship.

Noel Perez is a sophomore at WSU, pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Viticulture and Enology, after completing the College Cellar’s program at Walla Walla Community College. Outside of his studies, Noel works as an assistant winemaker for Palencia Wine Co. and in the past worked in harvest production at Dusted Valley and as the Barrel Reserve Dept. Lead for J&S Crushing. Noel was awarded both the Walter J. Clore Scholarship and the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Kelsey Itameri is a current student in the Walla Walla Community College Institute of Enology and Viticulture program. She received a BS from Georgetown University. After she and her husband made the move to Walla Walla and helped hand-weed her family half acre vineyard from noxious pests, decided to learn more about viticulture and pest management. She is a full-time student and works part time managing the wine club at Balboa Winery and takes care of the vines at the farm. She desires to start a winery using only estate fruit. Kelsey was awarded the Walter J. Clore Scholarship.

Austin Morrell will be starting his senior year at WSU this fall with a focus in Viticulture and Enology. He has extensive experience in both the vineyard and the cellar including driving tractor and spraying weeds out in the field, working the bottling line at Barnard Griffin Winery, conducting research with Dr. Markus Keller, and making wine with his dad at Lonesome Spring Ranch. Last summer he served as a viticulture intern for Hogue Cellars. Austin was awarded the Walter J. Clore Scholarship.

Margaret McCoy is a PhD candidate in Horticulture at WSU. Her research focuses on vineyard management, identifying equipment and fungicide programs to control powdery mildew. She is passionate about agriculture, soil, sprayer technologies, and improving viticulture practices in Washington. Margaret was awarded both the Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Scholarship and the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Andrew “Tyler” Williams is pursuing a Master’s degree in Food Science at WSU where he is evaluating the impact of juice pH on microbial ecology, and wine quality (specifically composition and sensorial changes). His passion for viticulture and winemaking started at an early age, as his grandfather pioneered the Red Mountain AVA and started Kiona Vineyards and Winery. Andrew spent his childhood summers clipping drip-tubes over new plantings, bottling wine, and learning about farming. After receiving his Master’s, he plans to return to the family winery as their full-time winemaker. Andrew was awarded both the Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers Scholarship and the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Kaitlin Miller is pursuing a Master’s degree in Plant Pathology at WSU where she is researching the interaction of grapevine leaf roll virus with red wine grapes and how this virus affects the metabolic pathways within the plant. After completing her Master’s, she hopes to work with WSU-Extension as a plant diagnostician. Kaitlin was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Katherine East is a PhD candidate in Horticulture at WSU. Her primary area of interest is the interaction of plant and other organisms and her graduate research focuses on root-knot nematode in Washington vineyards, applied research, and finding practical solutions to management questions. Katherine was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Nataliya Shcherbatyuk is a PhD candidate in Viticulture at WSU. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of water movement in grapevines during hydraulic redistribution. Given the recurrence of drought stress in Eastern Washington, this is a critical research topic. Nataliya also serves as a research assistant for WSU-IAREC. Her passion for plants began at early childhood and led her to focus her early studies on botany, eventually leading her to viticulture. Nataliya was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Garrett Lattanzio is pursuing a Master’s degree in Food Science at WSU where he is researching the effects of smoke events on grapes and wine. At the same time as being accepted into the WSU Master’s program, Garrett accepted a position as a winemaking intern at E&J Gallo for the 2016 harvest, leading research into Pinot Gris fining practices. After completing his Master’s, he looks forward to a career in the wine industry, with the hope of owning his own vineyard and winery someday. Garrett was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Victoria Minette is pursuing a Master’s degree in Food Science at WSU where she is researching non-Saccharomyces yeasts on the sensory and chemical properties of wine. This research is trying to determine if the use of non-traditional yeasts in the winemaking process can create some positive characteristics that may improve wine quality. She aspires to work at a large-scale winery either doing sensory evaluation work or blending different wines to produces a balanced final product. Victoria was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

The Washington Wine Industry Foundation helps fund solutions for the wine industry’s challenges, including the need for a future workforce that is well-educated and prepared to do great work. The Foundation’s Scholarship Program establishes, coordinates, manages and promotes scholarships for students pursuing degrees in industry-related fields. The Foundation’s Scholarship Program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the wine industry.

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