Sonoma State Univ., Santa Rosa J.C., Napa Valley College and U.C. Davis Students Listed as Recipients
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA | February 18, 2015: The Napa|Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense (WWS) raised $10,707 in 2014 through their fundraising efforts for their scholarship programs at Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College and U.C. Davis. Funds are awarded to students in the wine business or enology/viticulture degree programs at each of these schools annually.
The scholarship program was started in 2002 by the Napa|Sonoma chapter of WWS to help students with financial challenges pursue a career in the Wine Industry. This furthers WWS’s goals of engendering passion and education for wine making, marketing and enjoyment, and allows students that may not otherwise have access to the excellent educational institutions in Northern California. Throughout the year the chapter hosts events and fundraisers for this cause, including their upcoming “Women in Wine” event at Napa Valley College’s Performing Arts Center on March 5th (https://WWS-WomeninWine2015.eventbrite.com).
The March event will feature a silent auction and raffle benefiting the WWS Scholarship Fund. Items available for bidding include a Cabo San Lucas 4-day getaway, a 3-night La Costa Resort vacation, a 4-night theme park vacation in Orlando, a cruise, Napa Valley getaway trip, wine stemware, gift baskets, wine, books, cork purse and more. Proceeds go directly to the scholarship fund. Details on auction items at: https://WWS-WomeninWine2015.eventbrite.com.
The four local schools offering wine industry bachelor and master degrees solicit scholarship applications on WWS’s behalf. Each spring, the applications are reviewed and recipients are chosen in the summer with payments made available for the fall semesters.
This $10,707 amount is double the amount raised in 2012 and four times what was raised in 2011. “Just a few years ago we were barely raising $500 in scholarships for students in enology and viticulture studies at these schools,” reminisced chapter president Christine Mueller. “In 2015 our goal is to increase our awards even more to each of our schools,” she explained.
ABOUT THE WOMEN IN WINE EVENT
“Women in Wine” honors International Women’s Day (March 8) a few days early, as well as kicks off the chapter’s 25th anniversary celebration. The event’s reception, slated for the theatre’s lobby, will include a silent auction, mini-trade show, featuring food, wine and exhibitor tables, before moving into the main theatre for the panel discussion. It is open to the public, and tickets range from $15 to $65 per person at: https://WWS-WomeninWine2015.eventbrite.com.
Future programs planned for 2015 to help raise funds for next year’s recipients include “Bubbles Brix and Buzz IV” on July 22 at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma, and “Wine in America” at Clos Pegase on December 10th in Calistoga. These programs are just part of the networking, educational and fundraising events the chapter offers for both professional and student members.
Women for WineSense is a not-for-profit organization 501(c)6 formed in 1990 to help promote women working in the wine industry. WWS is committed to being the premiere wine organization offering outstanding education programs, member benefits, and networking opportunities to industry professionals and wine enthusiasts. The Napa/Sonoma Chapter currently has more than 325 members of which nearly 80% are professionals in the wine industry. To join or learn more about membership, please contact Ellen Reich Luchtel at Membership@WWSNapaSonoma.com or visit the WWS chapter’s website: WWSNapaSonoma.com.
