Stemilt Growers presented Washington Apple Education Foundation with a check for $12,000, which was raised during the fourth annual Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held May 17 in Wenatchee, WA.

WAEF is the charitable organization for the Washington tree fruit industry, which oversees more than 150 scholarships each year, including the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial scholarship.

According to Jay Fulbright, vice president of operations Washington Apple Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Witherbee accepts a check for $12,000 from Stemilt's Jay Fulbright, Kyle Mathison, West Mathison, Tate Mathison and Mark Blakney. The funds will go towards the Thomas K. Mathison Memorial Scholarship, which is administered by WAEF.at Stemilt, a record 36 teams turned out for the golf tournament to raise funds for the scholarship named after Stemilt's late founder and tree fruit industry icon, Tom Mathison. The tournament also received overwhelming sponsorship support from local and regional companies.

"Tom valued education and was always a strong supporter of local schools," Mr. Fulbright said in a press release. "The annual golf tournament is a way for us to carry on his passion for education by raising funds that benefit local students as they pursue a college degree."

According to Jennifer Witherbee, executive director of the WAEF, approximately 419 students throughout eastern Washington applied for 187 scholarships totaling $475,000 in 2012. WAEF selected and awarded 139 of those students with scholarships to use at the college of their choice.

Among these students was Ismael Vargas, a hard-working student with extra-curricular activities that include memberships in Future Farmers of America, Key Club, and Future Business Leaders of America, as well as the school soccer team. Mr. Vargas received the 2012 Thomas K. Mathison Memorial scholarship, totaling $5,000. He is pursuing a degree in engineering.

"WAEF would not exist if it weren't for the generosity of the tree fruit industry and companies like Stemilt," Ms. Witherbee said in the press release. "Our students share with us that the financial assistance is necessary for college to be a reality; but it's the encouragement offered by a scholarship that provides motivation to succeed at school."