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Each morning, thousands of vineyard workers rise before dawn in California’s wine country. Many have traveled thousands of miles, building new lives rooted in hard work. Their labor ensures wine lovers around the world find full shelves, but their impact reaches far deeper.

These workers are the backbone of a thriving community, their lives interwoven with every grapevine and bottle produced. Since 2015, the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship honors their stories by creating new ones, empowering their children to pursue futures shaped by education, purpose and possibility.

“Juan was not only a pillar in the community but a respected colleague and friend,” said Chloé Asseo-Fabre of L’Aventure Winery. “He valued education and made it his mission to help the families of his employees reach their full potential. We are honored to keep his legacy alive by supporting this cause.”

At 17, Juan Nevarez left Durango, Mexico, for the mushroom fields of Pennsylvania. Years later, he and his wife, Marta, made their way to Paso Robles, where Juan took on every vineyard job imaginable. His dedication and eye for improvement soon earned him a leadership role in the region’s wine industry.

Despite his own struggles with reading and writing, Juan was deeply committed to education. “Our dad’s one rule was we must graduate from college,” said his daughter, Eufemia. “It didn’t matter what or where, but a diploma had to hang on the wall.” Today, she continues his legacy as a member of the scholarship’s selection committee, where she helps identify the next generation of students this program will support.

A Lifeline for First-Generation Students
According to research by the Education Advisory Board, while more than half of U.S. undergraduates in 2023 were the first in their families to attend college, they graduated at less than half the rate of their peers with college-educated parents. These students often carry financial stress, cultural barriers and the weight of family expectations.

The Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship not only provides financial support to recipients on an ongoing basis, but it also provides mentorship, helping students navigate the complexities of higher education. Scholarship mentor Alex Gonzalez, a seasoned financial aid expert with more than two decades of experience, offers tailored guidance to the program’s students. His support helps them overcome obstacles while fostering a sense of belonging that allows them to thrive academically and personally.

Students Who Are Shaping the Future
Each scholarship recipient embodies the perseverance and hope that defined Juan Nevarez’s journey. Their stories speak not only of personal achievement but of breaking cycles, lifting families and building stronger communities.

Below are three students whose paths reflect the scholarship’s transformative power. These are real people turning aspiration into action.

Erid: Early Mornings, Relentless Drive
Throughout high school, Erid began each day at 5 a.m. to catch a bus and walk nearly two miles through chilly streets, not out of obligation but to honor his parents’ sacrifices. In a household of nine filled with laughter, noise and endless chores, he carved out time for rigorous study, mastering AP calculus and chemistry and graduating in the top 5% of his class.

Diagnosed with unilateral hearing loss as a child, Erid faced the kinds of medical and language barriers that are all too common for immigrant families. Because his parents struggled to understand his diagnosis, a new purpose crystallized for him: to make health care more accessible. Today, he is pursuing biomedical engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a goal of designing medical devices that bring clarity and care to those who need it most.

Alberto: From Vineyard Rows to Research Halls
Raised in small-town Shandon, Calif., Alberto often heard that his future would be limited. But working alongside his father in the vineyards, he learned that dreams are forged through effort. He balanced academics, sports and leadership, driven to turn his family’s sacrifices into success.

Alberto graduated high school with honors and earned a welding certificate from Cuesta College. He then used the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship to advance to California State University, Fresno, where he thrived in viticulture. Now pursuing a master’s degree, he will present his thesis this November at the Sustainable Ag Expo, a premier conference that spotlights innovation in agriculture and environmental stewardship. His journey reflects not only hard work but the scholarship’s role in expanding opportunity and building lasting networks.

Daisy: Composing Harmony in Land and Life
Music has always been Daisy’s language. Her fingers move effortlessly across instruments, translating emotion into sound. But her strongest rhythm comes from the land she calls home. Raised in wine country, she developed a deep respect for the environment and a desire to protect it.

At a recent Vineyard Team tailgate, a hands-on gathering where local growers share best practices in sustainable viticulture, Daisy connected with professionals equally passionate about the future of farming. For her, the experience was more than a networking opportunity. It was a glimpse into the world she’s preparing to shape.

“This scholarship not only helps financially,” Daisy said, “but also gives me a sense of community, and that’s something really special.” With every step, Daisy is not just pursuing a degree; she’s building a future grounded in sustainability and shared purpose.

How You Can Help Juan Nevarez Scholars
Behind every scholarship is a story, and behind every story, a community that believes in rising together. Supporting the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship is not just about giving money. It’s about opening doors, empowering futures and walking alongside students who are redefining what’s possible.

Your contribution becomes a bridge between hard work and lasting success. As donor Matt Kleefisch from the Ava Hotel expressed, “We are proud to support the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship, a program that shares our values in commitment to community, education and the future of California’s wine industry. This partnership not only honors the legacy of hard work, but also invests in a brighter, more inclusive future for our community.”

Join Vineyard Team in honoring Juan Nevarez’s legacy. In collaboration with Must! Charities, we are investing in young leaders and strengthening our communities, one student, one scholarship, one story at a time.

References
EAB. (n.d.). Four tactics to support the first-generation student [Infographic]. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://eab.com/resources/infographic/four-tactics-to-support-the-first-generation-student/

Must! Charities. (n.d.). Must! Charities: Together we do more. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.mustcharities.org/

Sustainable Ag Expo. (n.d.). Sustainable Ag Expo. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.sustainableagexpo.org/

Vineyard Team. (n.d.). Scholarship program. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.vineyardteam.org/scholarship/

Vineyard Team. (n.d.). Vineyard Team. Retrieved July 10, 2025, from https://www.vineyardteam.org/