WWIF Awards Scholarships

The Washington Wine Industry Foundation has issued scholarship to 11 students.  The scholarships totaling $27,000 fall in two categories, the Walter J. Clore Scholarship, which recognizes the lifetime achievements of the pioneering Washington vintner.  And the Foundation Fund Scholarship, which is awarded to students from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, which includes Yakima, Klickitat and Benton counties.  Of the 11 students to receive scholarships this year, three are PhD candidates at Washington State University.

Scholarship awardees include:

Jati Adiputra is a PhD candidate in Plant Pathology at WSU conducting research into plant diseases, supporting our state’s clean plant work and improving management of grapevine red blotch disease. Jati was awarded the Clore Scholarship.

Jesse Aplin is a PhD candidate in the Food Science at WSU conducting research to better understand how spoilage organisms such as non-saccharomyces yeasts may be harnessed to actually improve product quality and safety, and to develop products that ease industry impact on the environment. Jesse was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Zachary Cartwright is a PhD candidate in Food Science at WSU researching solutions to decrease the viability of Brettanomyces bruxellenses (a yeast that particularly affects red wine quality) in both vineyards and different types of oak barrels. Zachary was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Rachel Ensign will begin her studies this fall pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the V&E Program at WSU. Rachel is interested in both the science and creativity of wine, and will enjoy an internship at Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards this summer. Rachel was awarded the Clore and a Foundation Fund Scholarships.

Emma Gunderson will begin her studies this fall pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at Big Bend Community College, after which she plans to enter the V&E program at WSU Tri-Cities. Emma is interested in the hospitality side of the industry, and plans to minor in Hospitality Management. Emma was awarded the Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Caroline Merrell is a PhD candidate in the Food Science program at WSU. Working under Dr. Jim Harbertson, Caroline helped successfully develop a method to quickly and inexpensively separate wine tannins and anthocyanins, and is now using this methodology to understand factors that stabilize wine color, contribute to wine mouth feel, and affect tannin size distribution with berry maturity and wine aging. Caroline was awarded the Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers and Foundation Fund Scholarship.

Alexis Newman will begin her studies this fall pursuing a degree in Business Management with a focus on the wine industry. Growing up in the Tri-Cities, Alexis has seen first-hand the widespread economic impact and growth of the Washington wine industry, and she looks forward to making her own mark on the industry. Alexis was awarded the Clore and Foundation Fund Scholarships.

Carina Ocampo will be a senior this year in the V&E Department at WSU studying pests, diseases, and viruses under Dr. Naidu Rayapati. Her research project, Gambling with Grafting, recently won first place at the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Annual Meeting & Convention. Carina plans to continue her education with a Master’s Degree following graduation. Carina was awarded the Clore, Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers and Foundation Fund Scholarships.

Megan Schumaker is pursuing a Master’s degree in the Food Science program at WSU. Megan is conducting research on the sensory properties of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in both the United States and Portugal to understand consumer acceptance and preference in both countries. Megan was awarded the Clore Scholarship.

Megan Wade is pursuing a Master’s degree in the Food Science program at WSU. Under Dr. Charles Edwards, Megan is researching how nutrition of the grape must, specifically nitrogen levels, influences growth and/or spoilage by the bacteria Pediococcus in the resultant wine. Megan was awarded the Clore Scholarship.

Cary Wilton is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the V&E program at WSU. Cary dropped out of engineering school to volunteer at a winery in Tuscany, Italy followed by internships at wineries in South Africa and then Woodinville before entering the V&E program at WSU. This summer Cary will continue studying abroad in Toulouse, France. Cary was awarded the Clore and Foundation Fund Scholarships.

The Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the future of the Washington wine industry by advancing education, research, and leadership. WWIF helps coordinate, manage and promote scholarships and grants given by the wine and grape industry, and develops resources to enable new ones.

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