Oct 08, 2024

Washington, D.C.

Selected Hospitality Students Receive $20K in Total Scholarships to Help Fund Education

WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/08/2024 - Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Educational Foundation - the charitable arm of the only national trade association for wine and spirits distributors - has today announced four recipients of the Robert Qualls Scholarship. The winning students, who are pursuing a certificate or degree in the hospitality space and are former or current employees or children of employees of alcohol wholesalers, retailers and suppliers, were awarded $5,000 each to help fund their education expenses. Scholarship winners were selected by an independent panel of judges through a competitive application process.

WSWA Educational Foundation created the Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund thanks to the generous donations of Tito's Handmade Vodka and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits in memory of Robert Qualls, an extraordinary hospitality and spirits industry veteran and a beloved employee (at different times in his life) for both companies. The Robert Qualls Scholarship Fund honors 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.

2024 Robert Qualls Scholarship Recipients:

• Megan Dubeansky

• Madelyn McDonald

• Mark Mendel

• Joseph Palazzo

"We are honored to award these students who are pursuing education and careers in the hospitality industry," said WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton. "Your commitment to educational excellence and the future of our industry is commendable - we are excited to support you in your schooling. Congratulations, Joseph, Madelyn, Mark and Megan!"

For more information about this scholarship program and the WSWA Educational Foundation, please visit our website 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 more than 380 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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