Alex Capi Gets After It
Stemilt Field Staff Manager and WAEF volunteer Alex Capi on work ethic and how a little WAEF goes a long way.
The charity of the tree fruit industry
Helping students
from orientation
to graduation
Scholarships, mentorship, support & career readiness for students connected to Washington's tree fruit industry
- Students
- 300+Students
- Alumni
- 2,000+Alumni
- Years
- 30+Years
WAEF is powered by the Washington State tree fruit industry
About WAEF
Impacting futures
WAEF is a non-profit with one purpose — to help students from tree fruit families achieve their academic dreams and in the process strengthen the industry and its communities. Scholarships are funded by individual, industry and community donors who believe in those students, and they include not just money but deep support for persistence to graduation, professional development and career exploration.
- Our story
Our approach, governance, values and more.
- Get a scholarship
For students from tree fruit families — any major, any school.
For WAEF Students
Current WAEF student? The hub has your dates, workshops and events.
87%
graduate on time
WAEF students are amazing.
90%
graduate without debt
That's huge.
$1.3M
awarded in 2026
Funded by the tree fruit industry.
Seizing opportunities
First in the family
Three quarters of WAEF students are the first in their family to go to college.
Beyond the scholarship
So much more than money
We've learned that access alone isn't enough. It takes wraparound support to help WAEF students graduate on time and career-ready — a scholarship is just the starting point.
The scholarship
Students receive money to cover tuition, books, housing and food. They can renew every year they remain enrolled.
Persistence to Graduation
Students have someone in their corner as they navigate challenges and stay on track. They get on-going mentorship, regular check-ins, care packages and other encouragements, and more.
Professional Development
Students build the skills, awareness and confidence employers expect as they step into the workforce, through workshops, learning sessions and more.
Career Exploration
Students explore careers in their communities and build connections that shape their path, through career exploration tours and other industry interaction opportunities.
“I am grateful to WAEF for providing support that goes beyond finances, creating a community of encouragement and belonging that motivates me throughout my college journey. It reminds me that people genuinely care about my success.”
- Our approach
How WAEF supports students from orientation to graduation.
Modest investments, outsized returns
Helping Students Close the Gap
Research and real-life feedback show that even modest scholarships can mean the difference between going to college or not for students from low and middle income families. These students are incredibly resourceful, but they face a financial gap that is difficult to bridge, even with grants, institutional aid, and their own contributions from long working hours. Many are simultaneously contributing to the general expenses of their families.
WAEF scholarships are designed to be the helping hand that makes the difference.
In their words
What students and supporters are saying
“Without you guys, I don't know that I'd be going to college.”
“I am very grateful, beyond words, for the continuous support that I have received from WAEF and all of the amazing donors. Being a WAEF scholarship recipient has had a huge impact on my entire family’s life but specifically my own drive, confidence and mental well-being.”
“When we first partnered with WAEF, our goal was to give students an opportunity they might not have had before. To say we’ve reached over $1.3 million dollars in scholarship funding is overwhelming. I can’t describe how grateful the Mathison family and Stemilt is to be able to support the youth and future of our industry and award them for their hard work in and outside the classroom.”
Support WAEF students
Let us help
WAEF resources for school counselors
We’d love to partner with you as you guide your students on their post-high school journey. Explore how we can help.
One application, a portfolio of scholarships
Your student applies once. WAEF matches them against every scholarship they are eligible for, and 87% of WAEF students graduate on time.
Scholarship training material
Two class-period sessions on finding scholarships and writing the essay, with slides, facilitator guides and student handouts. Built from years of reading applications, and free to use.
We’re happy to facilitate
WAEF staff visit high schools across central Washington to talk with seniors about scholarships. Just get in touch if you’d like us to visit your school.
News
The latest from WAEF
Scholarship awards, new board members, volunteer honors and the results of every match and challenge — what the Tree Fruit industry makes possible for students, as it happens.
Brandon Flory Joins WAEF Board, Bringing Financial Expertise and a Heart for Mentorship
Brandon Flory serves as CFO of Gilbert Orchards and Sundquist Fruit and brings both financial expertise and a strong connection to the agricultural community in central Washington. Raised in the Naches area and a graduate of Washington State University, Brandon spent 12 years in public accounting before moving into his current role, always staying closely…
Greg Koch Joins WAEF Board to Help Shape the Next Generation
Greg Koch, Chief Executive Officer at Olympic Fruit, joins the Washington Apple Education Foundation Board of Directors with a lifelong connection to Washington agriculture and a deep appreciation for the opportunities education can create. Raised in the Yakima Valley, Greg grew up surrounded by the tree fruit industry. From working in warehouses as a young…
Their journeys
WAEF student stories
2,000+ WAEF students have graduated and gone on to careers they love, many directly in the tree fruit industry or its local communities.
Jenifer Mandujano
Univ. Washington 2025
Nursing
Luis Cortez
Univ. Washington 2020
Aero. & Astro. Eng.
Maria Armengol
Univ. Washington 2025
Business
Alejandro Ramos
Washington State Univ. 2021
Fruit & Veg. Mgmt.
Dalay Ledezma
Washington State Univ. 2026
Chemical Engineering
Dianna Sanchez
Washington State Univ. 2020
Fruit & Veg. Mgmt.
Rocio Sevilla Martinez
Washington State Univ. 2026
Economics
Neftali Garcia
Washington State Univ. 2020
Fruit & Veg. Mgmt.
Casey Jackson
Univ. of Washington 2019
Communication
Click or tap a student to read their story.