Award-Winning Graduate Students Advance Critical Research in Viticulture and Enology Across North America
July 7, 2025 (Lovettsville, VA) — The American Wine Society Educational Foundation (AWSEF) is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of its annual scholarships, awarded to graduate students conducting advanced research that supports the North American wine industry.
This year, eight outstanding scholars from leading research institutions were selected for their innovative and impactful studies in viticulture, enology, plant pathology, soil science, and climate resilience.
“Each year, we are inspired by the caliber of research being done by these emerging leaders,” said Kristen Lindelow, President of the AWSEF. “Their work directly addresses the challenges winegrowers face today—from extreme weather and trunk diseases to pest management and quality enhancement. Supporting their efforts is central to our mission.”
The 2025 AWSEF Scholarship Recipients are:
Brandt Bastow, PhD Candidate at the University of California–Davis
Developing rapid, affordable methods to detect smoke taint using fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometric modeling, empowering growers with timely harvest decisions during wildfire events.
Scholarship in Memory of Thomas King (Anonymous Donor)
Arpa Boghozian, PhD Candidate at the University of California–Davis. I
nvestigating the impact of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus on fruit development to support new enzyme-based vineyard practices that preserve quality and reduce grower losses.
AWS Chapter of Cleveland, Ohio Scholarship
Michael Cook, PhD Candidate at Texas A&M University.
Studying irrigation strategies across Texas wine regions to improve grapevine resilience, wine stability, and berry composition in the face of climate extremes.
W. J. Rachele Endowment Scholarship
Hannah Frank, PhD Candidate at Cornell University
Modeling beneficial soil fungi (AMF) to give growers a predictive tool for soil health and cost-effective decisions about inoculants.
AWS Chapter of Meadowlands, NJ Scholarship
Isidora Silva-Valderrama, PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia.
Predicting the virulence of grapevine trunk disease pathogens and developing tools to reduce their impact and safeguard vineyard longevity.
Banfi Vintners Scholarship
Jesse Stevens, MSc Candidate at Washington State University.
Optimizing UVC light as an eco-friendly treatment for powdery mildew and refining sulfur application guidelines to minimize phytotoxicity risks.
AWS Chapter of North Alabama Scholarship
Douglas Vines, MSc Candidate at the University of Minnesota.
Advancing cold-hardy grapevine breeding by uncovering genetic traits related to winter survival and late bud break in cold climates.
Virginia Wylder Scholarship
Nikolas Wilson, PhD Candidate at the University of British Columbia.
Testing mitigation strategies for heat-stressed grapevines, including irrigation and canopy sprays, and comparing heat tolerance across key grape varieties.
AWS Special Scholarship
The AWSEF is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in the grape and wine industry. Scholarships are made possible by generous contributions from AWS chapters, endowed funds, and individual donors.
To learn more about the Foundation or contribute to future scholarships, visit www.awsef.org.