Sep 17, 2020

Washington Apple Education Foundation launches scholarship resource website

The Washington Apple Education Foundation’s (WAEF) new scholarship resource website went live this week.  The site, located at www.scholarshipresources.org, was created to serve the scholarship information needs of college-bound students and their parents and school counselors.  It contains information from WAEF’s scholarship training curriculum normally delivered in person by WAEF staff.

At the start of each school year, WAEF staff members make visits to the 45 school districts in the foundation’s service area personally deliveringinformation to high school seniors about researching scholarships, avoiding disqualification in the application process, and creating applications that stand out.  In most years, the foundation provides direct training to over 4000 students during school hours.

Work on the new scholarship recourses website began in late March of this year.  At that time it was unknown if students would be returning to the classroom in the fall nor was it known if outside visitors would be welcomed in schools at the start of the new school year. 

The scholarship training website utilizes the curriculum created by WAEF over 15 years ago.  It is based on the review of hundreds of applications annually by foundation scholarship committee volunteers.  Each year it’s updated with input from selection committee members.

In addition to www.scholarshipresources.org, WAEF staff has scheduled three webinars for area students and counselors beginning next month.  Videos and emails will be sent to counselors monthly with tips to share with students.  Several schools in the region have also scheduled virtual training sessions for their students.

WAEF is committed to adapting outreach and information to help keep college-bound students on track this year.

The new scholarship training site was made possible with the support of grant funding from Chelan Fresh, U.S. Bank Foundation, and the Yakima Valley Resilience and Response Fund created by the Yakima Valley Community Foundation, Latino Community Foundation and United Way of Central Washington.

In addition to providing scholarship resources, WAEF awards over $1 million in scholarships annually to new and renewing students whose parents are employed in the tree fruit industry.  80% of WAEF scholarship recipients are first-generation college students.  Specific information about the foundation’s scholarships, including current applications, can be found at www.waef.org/scholarships.

The Washington Apple Education Foundation is the charity of Washington’s tree fruit industry.  Its mission is to impact lives through access to educational opportunities.  The foundation is funded through voluntary contributions from tree fruit industry members and supporters. 

For more information, contact WAEF office at (509) 663-7713 or visit www.waef.org.