O Wines Announces 2013 Opportunity for Success Scholarship Recipients

Woodinville, Wash.

O Wines is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarships, which include 11 recent high school graduates from California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington. These young women were selected among 1,900 applicants nationwide.

2013 O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholars:

• Albany D., Jacksonville, FL, University of Florida
• Josalynn F., Williamsburg, KY, University of Kentucky
• Marissa G., Broken Arrow, OK, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Sena L., New Orleans, LA, Saint Louis University
• Jordan M., Roseburg, OR, Concordia University
• Nicole G., San Diego, CA, San Francisco State University
• Hlee L., Oroville, CA, California State University, Sacramento
• Kelsey R., Spokane, WA, University of Portland
• Sandy V., Seattle, WA, University of Washington
• Vanessa M., Des Moines, WA, University of Washington
• Michaela M., Poulsbo, WA, Seattle Pacific University

O is for Opportunity. Founded by Stacy Lill and Kathy Johanson in 2006, O Wines provides scholarships to low-income, capable young women. In its first five years, O Wines raised $125,000 and funded more than 40 scholarships to students, most of whom are the first among their family members to attend college.

This spring, O Wines partnered with the College Success Foundation to create the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship. Each O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship is $20,000, given in $5,000 increments annually over 4 years. Scholarships are available to High School senior females nationwide that are entering their freshman year of college and are enrolled in a four year program. Applicants must have a minimum GPA and meet established criteria.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be able to help these remarkable young women achieve their greatest potential through education,” said co-founder Stacy Lill. “I truly believe education is the foundation for a strong community and many of these young women are making generational changes by overcoming obstacles and becoming the first members of their families to attend college. We are honored to play a role in helping to make their dreams of education become a reality.”

The College Success Foundation with offices in Washington State and Washington D.C. (collegesuccessfoundation.org) administers the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship fund including applications, awards and fund management. The annual application window opens March 1 and closes April 1 for each calendar year with scholarship winners announced in May.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates acquired O Wines in September 2012 with the intent to grow the brand and its scholarship fund. Previously available only in the Northwest, O Wines released nationwide in April 2013. Lill continues to support O Wines as a brand ambassador to raise awareness for O Wines and the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship.

Winemaker Katie Nelson crafts O Wines Chardonnay (MSRP: $14) and Red Wine (MSRP: $16) from vineyards throughout Washington state’s Columbia Valley.

About O Wines
O is for Opportunity - O Wines provides scholarships to low-income, capable young women so they can achieve their greatest potential through education. The brand was established in 2006 in Woodinville, Washington with a mission to fund college scholarships for disadvantaged, deserving young women. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates acquired O Wines in 2012 to grow the brand and scholarship fund nationally.

About the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarship
The College Success Foundation selects scholarship winners based upon established criteria. The College Success Foundation has more than 12 years of experience inspiring underserved, low-income students to finish high school and provides the unique, integrated system of supports and scholarships students need to graduate college and succeed in life. For more information on the O Wines Opportunity for Success Scholarships visit Oscholarship.org

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For further information:
Lynda Eller
lynda.eller@smwe.com