WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt Growers is pairing with the Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) to help six future fruit growers and other students with college costs through various scholarships. On Monday, July 24^th, students, teachers, parents, and representatives from various local organizations gathered to celebrate these students for their academic achievements at a luncheon at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

“The WAEF programs give many the opportunity that may have not been there before,” noted West Mathison, President of Stemilt Growers, in a company press release. “We are ecstatic to support the children of Stemilt’s team members as they are the future for the industry.”

WAEF is a charity of Washington’s tree fruit industry that has, so far, been able to award just under $1 million in scholarships to 250 students for the upcoming school year. The foundation will hold its own luncheon in Yakima, Washington, on July 31^st.

WAEF has been a partner of Stemilt for a decade, awarding hardworking students for their successes in and outside of the classroom. Through the partnership, the apple grower has created three scholarships through the partnership: the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Scholarship, the Renewal Scholarship, and Single Year Scholarship.

This year, the two organizations granted the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Scholarship to two students. The company noted that the award is granted to recipients who evince high moral character, a history of making choices that are morally sound, and possessed of values that align with Stemilt Founder Tom Mathison, values including hardwork and dedication to family and community values.

The students awarded these $20,000 scholarships are Stemilt employee Marcos Quiroz and Martimeano Villa. Quiroz is a student who is pursuing a degree in treefruit management and currently working at Stemilt in Research & Development while earning the credits to receive his degree. Villa is a senior at Toppenish High School with a 3.96 grade point average who has faced many hardships in his high school career while maintaining an excellent grade point.

The other Stemilt recipients are as followed:

• Amaris Casarez, a student at UCLA on a path towards a degree in chemistry with plans to continue onto medical school
• Edgar Apolinar a graduating senior from Wenatchee High School who plans to study law
• Daisy Montejano, a Wenatchee High School grad who plans on following a path towards architecture or another related field
• Jasmin Guerrero is a senior at Eastmont High School, who plans on attending Washington State University to pursue a career path in criminal justice
• Sami Everhart, a Wenatchee High School grad who graduated with a 3.97 GPA with aspirations in communications and graphic design
• Jose Torres Arellano, a graduated senior from Eastmont High School who plans on becoming an electric engineer

Each of these students will be receiving between $2,500 and $4,000 to help with college costs this fall.

Earlier this month, Stemilt presented WAEF with a check for $51,800 that was raised by the 9th Annual Thomas K. Mathison Golf Tournament that was held at the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club, and these funds will be used to fund the foundation’s scholarships for years to come.

ANUK extends our congratulations to these deserving students and kudos to Stemilt for the good work.

Stemilt Growers