WAEF Scholarships Pt 1
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. The Washington Apple Education Foundation is making a college education more affordable for hundreds of students again this year.WAEF's Executive Director Jennifer Witherbee says this year marks a milestone for her organization and the students who've been a part of it ...
WITHERBEE ... "This is the year we get to celebrate 25 years and it's also our biggest year for scholarships, so lots to celebrate this year. We have over 330 scholarship recipients, so our highest number ever, and they're sharing in about $1.1-million dollars in scholarships this year."
Witherbee says most of the students wind up attending colleges within the state ...
WITHERBEE ... "Washington state four-year public colleges are the most common for our students to attend, but we also have students that are attending vocational schools, community colleges, we do have some attending private schools in Washington state, and a few, not a lot, but a few do travel out of state."
But, she says the vast majority of the scholarship recipients are excited to return to their home communities ...
WITHERBEE ... "So, some might be working directly in the tree fruit industry, but others will be working in all of those different areas of the community that are so vital for our thriving communities. We have students studying in medicine and business and criminal justice and then lots of different areas that intersect with tree fruit."
Witherbee says most of the parents of the students are employed in the tree fruit industry.
Tune in tomorrow for more on the Washington Apple Education Foundation scholarship program.