Atwater Brewery Endows $50,000 scholarship to Michigan State University to advance diversity in the craft beer industry
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EmailFunding will support diverse students interested in brewing with opportunity for paid internship at Atwater Brewery
Atwater Brewery, a craft brewery partner of Molson Coors, announced today a $50,000 donation to Michigan State University (MSU) to create an endowed scholarship program known as the Atwater Brewery Student Scholarship. The endowment is funded by Molson Coors’ Tenth & Blake Brewing Education Scholarship Fund which seeks to address the lack of diversity in the craft industry. Scholarship recipients will have an opportunity to work full-time, paid internships at Atwater Brewery in Detroit, Michigan.
“Diversifying the craft beer industry is an integral part of our mission and values,” said Katy McBrady, president of Atwater Brewery. “Providing financial support and career opportunities to the next generation of diverse craft brewers is an essential component to creating a more inclusive industry.”
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must be an MSU undergraduate student enrolled in the beverage science and technology minor under the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Special consideration will be given to ensure the scholarship supports the university’s stated mission of building and supporting a culture of diversity and inclusion.
“We are immensely grateful to Molson Coors for providing our students with the opportunity to advance their knowledge of the craft beer industry with an internship at Atwater Brewery,” said Leslie Bourquin, Ph.D., professor and chair of the MSU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. “The Atwater Brewery Student Scholarship fund will help MSU provide our diverse students with life-changing career opportunities, which further reinforces our mission to promote inclusion on our campus.”
The beverage science and technology minor provides students with fundamental knowledge of the production of fermented beverages. Nicole Shriner, Ph.D., teaches the core beverage minor courses and leads the Fermented Beverage Technology program and analysis lab at MSU.
“The Atwater Brewing Student Scholarship is an exciting opportunity for our future Spartans who are interested in pursuing careers in brewing sciences,” said Nicole Shriner. “I am grateful to Molson Coors and Atwater Brewery for connecting with Michigan State in this way and excited to further this industry partnership.”
The Tenth & Blake Brewing Education Scholarship Fund seeks to address the lack of diversity in the craft beer industry. According to a 2021 survey released by the Brewers Associations, 93.5% of brewery owners who responded were white, while 2.2% were Hispanic, 2% were Asian and 0.4% were Black. For gender, 75.6% of respondents were male, 23.7% were female and 0.2% were listed as non-binary/third gender.
The donation is part of Molson Coors’ larger Project Justice initiative and recent $1.5 million investment in creating equitable access to higher education, economic opportunity, and social justice for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) communities, bringing its total cumulative investment to $4.5 million since 2020.
Beyond Project Justice and its Tenth and Blake Brewing Education Scholarship Fund, Molson Coors’ social impact initiatives partner with organizations that aim to improve livelihoods, build resilient communities and empower the next generation of diverse leaders.
About Molson Coors
For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people to celebrate all life’s moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon LightSky, Vizzy, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs, Hop Valley and more, Molson Coors produces many beloved and iconic beer brands. While the company’s history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well. Our ESG strategy is focused on People and Planet with a strong commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities and the environment.
