A scholarship endowment fund has been established in the name of Tom Stokes to recognize his work as chief executive officer of the fruit processing cooperative TreeTop, which has operations in Washington, Oregon, and California. He will retire this year.

Stokes began his career with TreeTop as production supervisor at the Wenatchee, Washington, plant and after several promotions was named CEO in 1999. He has served on the boards of the Northwest Food Processors Association, Juice Products Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Apple Processors Association, U.S. Apple Association, and Washington Apple Education Foundation.

The scholarship, which is administered by the Apple Education Foundation, will be awarded to first-generation college students whose parents are employed in a labor or entry-level position by a commercial grower or packer in Washington’s tree fruit industry. Priority will be given to students intending to work in the tree fruit industry.