Lodi Grape Growers Association honors scholarship recipients

The Lodi District Grape Growers Association recognized the 2017 recipients of its Jim Kissler Memorial Scholarship and Michael David Foundation Scholarship during its 65th annual meeting and dinner held Thursday.

Last year the association awarded a total of $21,000 to nine recipients of the Jim Kissler Memorial Scholarship.

According to association Executive Director Amy Blagg, the Kissler scholarship is for local students who have plans of furthering their education in agriculture, viticulture, enology, agribusiness, ag engineering and ag education. Students were required to submit a transcript, letters of recommendation and an essay on an agricultural issue they feel affects California farmers and their career goals.

“It was 20 years ago — I’m actually a recipient of it myself — and it’s named after Jim Kissler, a farm advisor in this area for many years,” Blagg said. “He was very well respected. He did a lot to take Lodi from what used to be — table grapes — and he really made a lot of progress as far as the winegrape industry in this area goes. It’s to honor him and to recognize and select those students that we feel may have future ambitions to return to this area and work in agriculture and further agriculture in the future.”

According to Blagg, who grew up in the Lodi area and majored in agricultural business, organizations like the Lodi District Grape Growers Association and the farm bureau helped pay for her college education. Their support and commitment, she said, led her to work for the farm bureau for a couple of years before working with the grape growers association.

“Becoming familiar with these associations and the good things that they’re doing with agriculture in our community is definitely something that’s obviously shaped my life,” Blagg said.

The association also administers the Michael David Foundation Scholarship, which is funded by the Phillips family. Last year the Phillips family awarded $25,000 to 19 scholarship recipients. The scholarship is both for students who plan to major in agriculture or students with an agricultural background who wish to major in something else, Blagg said.

Both scholarships are offered annually and applications are due by March 31. The recipients are selected and are awarded in either April or May, and are later recognized at the association’s annual meeting and dinner, Blagg said.

During the dinner, a current recipient and a past recipient of the Kissler scholarship spoke and a raffle fundraiser and auction was held to raise funds for future scholarships.

Recipients of the 2017 Jim Kissler Memorial Scholarship include Mary Jane Gwerder, Crystal Huerta, Halley Launchland, Jasmine Toledo, Kaleb Roberson, Helene Dondero, Victoria Reller, Brooke Dondero and Trevor Granlees. The recipients of the 2017 Michael David Foundation Scholarship include Haley Boynton, Dana Brady, Allison Canepa, Crystal Huerta, Halley Launchland, Ian Reece, Victoria Reller, Kaleb Roberson, Jasmine Toled, Rosio Vergara, Hannah Brady, Mary Jane Gwerder, Kirtsen Lerner, Brooke Niederhauser, Kristen Fukunaga, Trevor Granlees, Prentyce Hitt, Cierra McClure and Evan Oneto.