The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced its 2020 scholarship recipients in a May 15 news release. In total, the foundation is awarding more than $1 million to 310 students from Adams, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties in Washington state and in Oregon’s Hood River County.

WAEF scholarships are awarded to students whose families have ties to the tree fruit industry. In most instances, the parents of recipients are employed in orchards and warehouses and, according to the release, nearly 80 percent of the 2020 scholarship recipients are first-generation college students.

The WAEF scholarship program is funded through voluntary donations made by industry employers and supporters. For more information, go to www.waef.org.

—by Jonelle Mejica