The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University and Southern Wine & Spirits of America Announce Wine Business Scholarship Fund

Student Scholarships to be Awarded Annually Over Five Years for Work Ethic, Relationship Skills and Passion for the Industry

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Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.

Mar 09, 2016, 01:30 ET

The Wine Business Institute (WBI) is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU). For more information, visit: http://www.sonoma.edu/sbe/wine-business-institute/.

MIAMI and ROHNERT PARK, Calif., March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. (Southern)—the nation's leading wine and spirits distributor—and The Wine Business Institute (WBI) at Sonoma State University (SSU)—the global leader in wine business research and education—today announced the Southern Wine & Spirits of America Wine Business Scholarship Fund to provide two scholarships annually for five years to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree in wine business.

Funds are awarded in support of career advancement and educational accomplishment to offset costs of tuition, books, fees, housing and other expenses. Eligibility requirements include a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher, current or planned career in the wine industry, and demonstration of a strong work ethic, human relationship skills and a passion for the wine industry.

Since 2011, Southern has been a corporate partner of SSU in support of the Professional Sales Certificate program and annual etiquette dinner for students. Applications for the Southern Wine & Spirits of America Wine Business Scholarship Fund are due Friday, March 11, 2016.

"We are proud to partner with the Wine Business Institute in its commitment to further the education and learning of those interested in the wine business," said Wayne Chaplin, Southern's President & CEO. "This scholarship is one way Southern is showing our commitment to supporting world-class training and development for the future leaders of our industry."

"Southern Wine and Spirits continues a legacy of support for student growth and learning with this generous scholarship in wine business. We value their confidence in Sonoma State University as the global leader in wine business research and education, and their partnership in creating a sustainable future for wine business leadership. Over the coming months, we look forward to working with them to announce the winners of this incredible scholarship," Ray Johnson, Director of the Wine Business Institute said.

About the Wine Business Institute
The Wine Business Institute (WBI) is an education and research institute of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU). SSU is the first institution of higher learning in the U.S. to offer seminars, certificates, and degree programs focused on the business of wine, and the first school of business in the world to offer an executive-level wine business degree. With its unique location, outstanding faculty, and deep relationships in the world of wine, SSU and WBI attract current and future professionals from California and around the world. They come to experience first-hand the expertise and wealth of connections among students, alumni, and industry leaders.

Additional available wine business scholarships include the La Tosh Wine Business Scholarship, Liz Thach Wine Industry Scholarship, Donn P. Reisen Scholarship Fund, Women for WineSense Scholarship, Sonoma Valley Cuisine Scholarship, and Charlie Palmer's Pigs & Pinot Annual Scholarship. For more information regarding wine business scholarships, or for information regarding wine business seminars, certificates, and degree programs at SSU, please visit www.sonoma.edu/sbe/winebiz, contact (707) 664-3235, or email [email protected].

About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor and broker with operations in 35 markets. The multi-state distributor currently operates in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Southern will be operational in in North Dakota and South Dakota by April 1, 2016. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 14,500 team members. Southern urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve and enjoy its products responsibly.