Good Fruit Grower

October 2012

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Scholarship numbers rise Both the number and value of the Washington Apple Education Foundation's scholarships have increased dramatically over the past decade. 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 50 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 SOURCE: WAEF member, he would like to see the foundation continue to grow so it can help more young people with their education. Team players The foundation administers many scholarships established by tree fruit industry members as well as its own scholarships. Some businesses award scholarships specifi- cally to family members of their employees, which helps students who otherwise might not be competitive with the whole pool of applicants. Dalton Thomas, president of Oneonta Trading Corporation, established a scholarship for Hispanic students who are playing college-level sports. "His concept is that these are team players and people who have those same skills to bring to the workplace," Witherbee explained. About 70 percent of the scholarship funds come from donors in the tree fruit indus- try and the rest from fundraisers. Last year, Dunn and Witherbee organized a WAEF fundraiser to tie in with the Lilac Bloomsday Run in Spokane, Washington. Current schol- arship recipients were encouraged to take part in the run and seek sponsorships. Who- ever raised the most money would have a scholarship in their name dedicated to students from their high school. One participant in the Bloomsday fundraiser was 21-year-old Xochitl Velazquez, who earned an associate degree while at high school in East Wenatchee. Her father, Gabriel Velazquez, works as a fruit inspector at Columbia Marketing International, and her mother, Xochitl Hurtado, works on the apple packing line at Columbia Fruit Packers. Velazquez received a scholarship sponsored by CMI, Columbia Fruit Packers, and McDougall and Sons, which provided her with the equivalent of a full ride at a public uni- versity for the three years it took her to earn a bachelor's degree at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. She majored in business administration with a triple concentra- tion in international business, marketing, and finance. This year she's returning to Gonzaga to study for her MBA. "My family and I could not pay for my college education on our own, but with the help of this scholarship, this financial burden was lifted," Velazquez said when she told her success story at this year's scholarship award ceremony. Selection It takes a selection committee of more than 60 tree fruit industry people to review the applications and determine which student is the best fit for each of the awards available. Students don't need to be pursuing a degree or career in agriculture to qualify, unless that's specified for a particular scholarship, but foundation staff keep in touch with them as they go though college and make sure they're aware of career opportunities in the tree fruit industry. The foundation can help arrange job shadows or find internships. Dunn, who has helped review scholarship applications, said it's been an eyeopener to read the applications. "It's something that's just amazing because there are so many hard stories that those students have been through. There's probably 98 percent that are deserving of scholarships. There are not enough to go around, but that's why I think it's important to keep growing the foundation." Witherbee said being a recipient makes a real difference to a student's life. "We hear that from our students all the time. It's more than the money. It provides motivation. It helps them know that people recognize their potential and see them as a good investment." • www.goodfruit.com 741 Sunset Road, Brentwood, CA 94513 800.634.1671 (Alison Clegg or Richard Chavez) 877.457.6901 (Henry Sanguinetti) Fax 925.634.6040 www.protreenursery.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER OCTOBER 2012 11 Number of awards Value 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 50 0 FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL! AWESOME! VALUABLE! SUPER! …those are just a few of the words we use to describe our customers. We love what we do, and you make it possible! A special THANK YOU to all of our loyal customers who come back to us year after year. ProTree Nurseries is dedicated to providing the best selection of apple and cherry trees, grafted on the heartiest rootstocks. If you're looking for a variety you can't find anywhere else, call ProTree Nurseries today. APPLES Banning Red Fuji (USPP 16,624 P2) Beni Shogun (USPP 7997) Brookfield® Buckeye® Blondee™ (USPP 19,007 McLaughlin cv) (USPP 10,016) (USPP 10,840) ® (USPP 21,300) Honeycrisp™ (USPP 7197) Gala Gala Crimson Gold Crab Dandee Red® (USPP 16,620) Frettingham Crab Golden Delicious CHERRIES ™ ® ™ ™ ® ™ ® ® ™ ™ ™ ™ Available on Colt, Gisela®, Krymsk®, Mahaleb, or Mazzard.* *Not all varieties are available on all rootstocks. Call for specific grafting information. Granny Smith Hilwell Braeburn (USPP 7526) Indian Summer Crab Joburn™ Braeburn (USPP 11,992) JonaStar JonaGold™ (USPP 20,590) LindaMac® (USPP 12,900) Pacific Gala® (USPP 9681) Manchurian Crab Midnight Red Spur™ (serial 74/458,730) Pearleaf Crab These apple varieties are available on B-10, B-118, EMLA-7, EMLA-26, EMLA-106, EMLA-111, G-11, G-16, G-30, M-9 337T, NIC®-29, or Supporter 4. Rising Sun Fuji® RubyJon® (USPP 10,115) RubyMac® Schlect Spur Delicious™ September Wonder™ Fuji (USPP 11,193) (USPP applied for) Simpson Crab Snowdrift Crab Torres Fuji™ (USPP applied for) Ultima™ Gala (USPP 13,753 P2) Zestar!™ (USPP 11,367) THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS NUMBER OF AWARDS

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