Now Accepting Applications for the 2021 Wine Studies Award for Students of Color
A year ago, TJ and Hadley Douglas, owners of The Urban Grape in Boston’s South End, generously established The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET). In a direct effort to reduce racial isolation in the wine field, the award funds at least one student of color each year through the four-level Certificate Program in Wine Studies offered by the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center at BU MET.
Applicants for this year’s award are now being considered, with applications accepted until June 30, 2021. Download the application today.
Recipients of the award benefit from a three-pronged approach that includes education, work experience, and mentorship intended to break down barriers to the beverage industry, create opportunities for career advancement, and to prepare students of color for long and prosperous careers in the wine industry. The award includes:
- Funding for the four-level Certificate Program in Wine Studies at BU MET, which provides personal enrichment and enhances wine expertise for a range of students, including industry professionals, consumers who wish to enjoy wine to a greater degree, students who want to explore wine in the broader cultural context of food and cuisine, and people whose goal is to enter the wine trade.
- A year of paid internships on three sides of the industry: retail with The Urban Grape, restaurant with Chef Tiffani Faison’s Big Heart Hospitality, and distribution with MS Walker.
- Personalized mentorship from Urban Grape founder TJ Douglas and other industry experts.
- An immersive travel experience: a fully funded trip to Burgundy’s wine country, provided and guided by wine exporters Peter and Becky Wasserman.
Last year, there were two recipients of the Urban Grape Wine Studies Award: Suhayl Ramirez and Amanda Best. Winners of this year’s award will be announced on August 1, 2021, with the program starting September 13.
For more information about The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color and to apply, visit Boston University’s Programs in Food & Wine.