ANNOUNCING THE NORTHWEST WINE & FOOD SOCIETY
& spirit horse vineyards FLY GIRL SCHOLARSHIP
Did you know that only 3% of winery owners and 10% of wine makers are women? At Spirit Horse Vineyards and Northwest Wine & Food Society, we support women who break barriers and are set to become tomorrow's leaders in the wine industry.
Taking its inaugural flight in Fall of 2024, the Fly Girl scholarship is named for Hazel Lee, who was the first Chinese American woman to be a fighter pilot in WWII. A Portland native, she was fearless and broke barriers in her industry. We are looking women who want to break barriers in the wine industry, whether it be as winemakers, entrepreneurs or innovators. In fact, we launched a Limited Edition 2016 Napa Valley Estate Zinfandel in her honor in parallel with the book American Fly Girl, written by PNW author and Spirit Horse superfan Susan Tate Ankeny. It is complex, spicy and breaks all the rules… just like Hazel did.
In the spirit of Hazel and Fly Girls everywhere, we are honored to support this scholarship. We are donating 20% of all gross wine sales to this cause (applies to any varietal). Just use the code FLYGIRL at checkout and know you are giving flight to a courageous woman’s dreams. Gather your favorite Fly Girls and Guys and let’s raise a glass to them all!
FAQ's:
Who can apply?
The scholarships are open to anyone who identifies as a woman pursuing a wine related education, business, or related endeavor. The scholarships are open to all fields within the wine industry, including but not limited to: sommeliers, wine writers, businesswomen, enology students, and restaurant & hospitality professionals. We recognize the additional challenges women face based on age, race, background, orientation and ethnicity and as such we strongly encourage applicants from these groups to apply.
Preference is given to women from the Pacific NW region or attending a program within the region.
What can I use the scholarship for?
Funds can be put towards professional or school related expenses, including but not limited to: school tuition, WSET wine certification, or research and development (i.e. research into creating an app or the development of a business plan) to further your educational and professional pursuits. Each application will be analyzed on a case by case basis and voted on by our Board.
When can I apply?
Our application window is September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024. Other applicable deadlines will be announced and communicated via the NWFS and Spirit Horse Vineyards websites, social media channels and newsletters. Become part of our community to stay up to date on this and other exciting news.
How much is the scholarship worth?
Individual scholarships are in the minimum amount of $1000 USD and a maximum amount of $5000 USD for each successful applicant. Up to 5 scholarships will be awarded each year. The total amount awarded will depend on the amount of funds raised during the period.
When is the scholarship awarded?
The scholarship receipients will be notified within 30 days of the close of the application period and announced at the NWFS Burns Supper.