The Tree Fruit Charity Awards over $1 Million in Scholarship Funds

 The Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) awarded 318 scholarships to students this year. Of the 318 scholarships, 218 were awarded to renewing  students, and 100 new students were welcomed to the WAEF family. These scholarships represent over $1 million sponsored by the tree fruit industry through various fundraisers, in memory of industry leaders and friends, and annual donations. WAEF scholarships are awarded to students whose families have ties to the tree fruit industry, specifically apples, pears, and cherries. In most instances, the parents of recipients are employed in orchards and warehouses. The WAEF scholarship program has a history of remarkable statistics regarding the retention of students at 87%. Additionally, 84% of our WAEF students graduate within four years or less 

from college/university, and 78% of the students that we serve are first-generation college/university students. The Beyond the Scholarship Program secures our WAEF students' success through mentoring, workshops, care packages, career exploration, regional events, and continuous follow-up throughout their academic careers.

 

Chelan County Scholarship Recipients

• Alejandra Gil-Camacho, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Nordic Scholarship. Gil Camacho is a graduate of Cashmere High School and the daughter of Juan Gil-Lopez and 

Maria de Los Angeles Camacho. 

 

• Amelia Brunner, Monitor, is the recipient of the Nordic Scholarship. Brunner is a graduate 

of Cashmere High School and the daughter of Adam Brunner and Nicole Brunner. 

 

• Andres Hernandez, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Northern Fruit/Ice Lakes Scholarship. 

Hernandez is a graduate of Cashmere High School and the son of Andres Hernandez and 

Maria Hernandez. 

 

• Angel Nolasco, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Blue Bird, Inc./Les Moser Memorial 

Community Service Award Scholarship. Nolasco is a graduate of Cashmere High School and 

the son of Angel Nolasco-Flores and Lilia Oropeza. 

 

• Aranza Arroyo-Mejia, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Hans & Lavonne van Someren 

Gréve Scholarship. Arroyo-Mejia is a graduate of Cashmere High School and the daughter of 

Jose Arroyo and Teresa Arroyo. 

 

• Carlos Guerrero Alverdin, Entiat, is the recipient of the Dalton & Pamela Thomas

Scholarship and the North Valley Mechanical/Charity Rumbolz Memorial Scholarship. 

Guerrero Alverdin is a graduate of Entiat High School and the son of Francisco Guerrero and 

Soila Alverdin. 

 

• Colson Brunner, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Jim Wade Memorial Scholarship. 

Brunner is a graduate of Cashmere High School and the son of the Late Nick Brunner and 

Jenn Brunner. 

 

• Dorothy Espinosa, Peshastin, is the recipient of the Nordic Scholarship. Espinosa is a 

graduate of Cascade High School and the daughter of Armando Espinosa and Abigail

Espinosa. 

 

• Elle Spears, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute

Scholarship. Spears is a graduate of Cashmere High School and the daughter of Marc Spears

and Dawn Spears. 

 

• Juan Martinez Nieto, Dryden, is the recipient of the Howard & Helen Hauff Memorial

Scholarship and the Mathison Family Scholarship. Martinez Nieto is a graduate of Cascade 

High School and the son of Juan Martinez and Norma Nieto. 

 

• Kyler Keogh, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Tim & Kathleen Welsh Scholarship. Keogh is 

a graduate of Cashmere High School and the son of Eric Keogh and Tammy Keogh. 

 

• Lesly Vejar, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Nordic Scholarship. Vejar is a graduate of 

Cashmere High School and the daughter of Oscar Rojas and Sarai Garcia. 

 

• Oscar Oropeza, Cashmere, is the recipient of the CCM Scholarship. Oropeza is a graduate 

of Cashmere High School and the son of Norberto Oropeza and Lady Oropeza. 

 

• Sandra Zapien, Monitor, is the recipient of the Susi Harris Memorial Scholarship. Zapien is 

a graduate of Cashmere High School and the daughter of Jose Zapien and Maria Ruiz. 

 

• Teague Duncan, Peshastin, is the recipient of the Taylor Orchards Scholarship and the Tree 

Top Scholarship. Duncan is a graduate of Cascade High School and the son of Ryan Duncan

and Kami Duncan. 

 

• Yasleni Mejia, Cashmere, is the recipient of the Bill DeWitt Memorial Scholarship and the

Bob McDougall Memorial Scholarship. Mejia is a graduate of Cashmere High School and 

the daughter of Javier Mejia and Evangelina Naranjo.