WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/16/2021 – The WSWA Educational Foundation – the charitable arm of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America – has today announced four recipients of the inaugural Robert Qualls Scholarship. The winning students, who are pursuing a certificate or degree in the hospitality space and are former or current employees of alcohol wholesalers, retailers and suppliers, were awarded $5,000 each to help fund their education expenses.
WSWA Educational Foundation, in collaboration with Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, created the Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund in memory of Robert Qualls, an extraordinary hospitality and spirits industry veteran and a beloved employee (at different times in his life) for Tito’s and SGWS. The Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund is meant to honor Qualls’ legacy of hard work, generosity, and selflessness by allowing students to follow in his footsteps. Throughout his career, he helped build brands, managed businesses, and mentored the next generation of industry professionals.
The four recipients this year are Peter Christoforatos (The Culinary Institute of America), Jaida Davi (Sonoma State University), Ethan Malonzo (Cornell University), and Nima Mehregan (The Culinary Institute of America). Scholarship winners were selected by an independent panel of judges through a competitive application process.
“We are honored to present the Robert Qualls Scholarship to these four distinguished students,” said WSWA President and CEO Michelle Korsmo. “Robert Qualls, who started his career in the distribution tier of the wine and spirits industry, left a lasting impact and legacy. Supporting the education of these students and helping them achieve their goals is one way we can honor his legacy and continue to support the hospitality industry for years to come.”
For more information about this scholarship program and the WSWA Educational Foundation, please visit our website here.
View the four scholarship winners here.
About Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
WSWA is the national trade association representing the distribution tier of the wine and spirits industry, dedicated to advancing the interests and independence of distributors and brokers of wine and spirits. Founded in 1943, WSWA has member companies in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and its members distribute more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the United States.
To learn more, please visit www.wswa.org or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
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