The Washington Apple Education Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Empowering Student Success!

WENATCHEE, WA – January 10, 2024 – The Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) proudly announces its 30th Anniversary, commemorating three decades of unwavering commitment to shaping the future of students in the apple industry. Established in 1994, WAEF has played a pivotal role in providing educational opportunities to thousands of students, fostering a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth.

Under the visionary leadership of a progressive Board of Directors, WAEF has flourished as a beacon of hope for aspiring students from an agricultural background seeking a brighter future.

According to Dr. Faviola Barbosa, the current Executive Director, “In 2024 we are going to start celebrating our 30th Anniversary. We will highlight a donor, a current student, an alumnus, or a volunteer every Monday, sharing their inspiring stories through 60-second interviews on our social media platforms. These stories will also be available on our YouTube channel,” said Dr. Barbosa during a recent interview.

The celebration aims to reconnect with the 3,000 students served by WAEF over the past 30 years. Dr. Barbosa emphasizes the importance of showcasing their accomplishments to inspire current and future students. As part of the celebration, WAEF plans to recognize past scholarship recipients at the annual scholarship luncheons in Wenatchee and Yakima in late July and early August, bringing together students, alumni, and supporters for a memorable event.

“We’re trying to reach out to all those students, feature them in our stories, and invite them to our luncheons. We believe their success stories will be incredibly inspirational for our current students and future potential scholars,” she added.

Jennifer Witherbee, who served as the previous director for just over 20 years, helped lay the foundation for WAEF’s success. Dr. Barbosa acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Witherbee, all the previous board of directors, and the entire WAEF community, whose dedication has transformed countless lives through education.

For more information about WAEF’s 30th Anniversary celebrations, please visit their official website at www.waef.org. Stay connected and join the celebration on social media by following WAEF on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. “$30 for the 30th Anniversary” will be a new campaign explicitly promoted to celebrate WAEF’s Anniversary, and it is just one of many ways you can help support WAEF.

About Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF): The Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the educational dreams of children from families that work in the tree fruit industry in Washington. Since its inception in 1994, WAEF has provided scholarships and resources to empower students to achieve their academic and career goals.