ASEV Awards $99,500 in Scholarships and Honors Top Student Presentations at 2025 National Conference

DAVIS, Calif., September 30, 2025 – Twenty-one  students received $99,500 in scholarships, and six students were recognized with Best Student Presentation Awards at the 2025 ASEV National Conference held June 16-19 in Monterey, California, by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV).

Two students received the ASEV Presidents’ Award for Scholarship in Enology and Viticulture for exceeding expectations of the traditional scholarship program, each receiving $12,500:

• Isidora Silva-Valderrama, University of British Columbia, Canada, for viticulture
• Nicholas Wendrick, University of Florida, Gainesville, for enology

In addition, 19 students received the ASEV Traditional Scholarship

• Jesse Anastacio, California State University, Fresno
• MacKenzie Aragon, Washington State University, Tri-Cities
• Reid Ball, Brock University, Canada
• Rekha Bhandari, Michigan State University, East Lansing
• Sarah Caballero, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Hava Delavar, North Dakota State University, Fargo
• Achyut Duwadi, University of Georgia, Athens
• Amanda Fleming, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Dennis Martin Scholarship for Enology)
• Daniel Hillin, Texas A&M University, College Station (Mike Vail Scholarship for Viticulture)
• Kaitlin Libbey, University of California, Davis
• Lik Rong Lim, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Yanxin Lin, The Pennsylvania State University, State College
• Daniel Phillipow, Brock University, Canada
• Ramish Pilli, North Dakota State University, Fargo
• Alberto Ramirez, California State University, Fresno
• Taran Rowles, The Pennsylvania State University, State College
• Karmandeep Sighu, Oregon State University, Corvallis
• Jesse Stevens, Washington State University, Prosser
• Nikolas Wilson, University of British Columbia, Canada

“Receiving this scholarship from ASEV is not just financial support—it strengthens my research and commitment in advancing plant protection and grapevine health,” said Isidora Silva-Valderrama, Presidents’ Award viticulture recipient. “This recognition motivates me to continue pushing boundaries in developing predictive tools to identify new risks and mitigate threats, ensuring the long-term resilience of the industry.”

“Receiving the ASEV President’s Award is an incredible honor, “said Nick Wendrick, Presidents’ Award enology recipient. “My path in enology has been shaped by persistence—applying year after year, learning from each experience, and staying committed to my research. This scholarship not only supports my work on muscadine and blueberry wines, but also reinforces the importance of perseverance and community in the wine industry. I’m grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to keep contributing to a field I love.” 

For more information about ASEV’s scholarship programs, visit the Scholarship Program webpage. Applications are accepted annually by March 1.

In addition to financial support, ASEV provides students with opportunities for professional development, mentorship and networking at the ASEV National Conference. Each year, selected students are recognized for best oral, poster and flash talk presentations in viticulture and enology.

The following students were recognized with the 2025 Best Student Presentation Awards within their respective fields. Thanks to Lallemand for their enology sponsorship and to J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for sponsoring the viticulture oral presentation:

VITICULTURE

• Oral Presentation: Christian Mandelli, Oregon State University, Corvallis, “Spray-Induced Gene Silencing as a Strategy for Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Control”
• Flash Talk: Amanda Rodriguez, University of California, Davis, “Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Abundance and Diversity Across Vineyards in the Western United States”
• Poster: Gwendolyn Richards, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, “Assessing Carbon Saturation Potential of Regeneratively Managed Vineyard Soils”

ENOLOGY

• Oral Presentation: Yanxin Lin, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, “Application of Tannin Fragmentation Fingerprint: A Rapid LC-MS/MS Approach for Structural Profiling and Quantification”
• Flash Talk: Sydney Rogers, University of California, Davis, “Identification of Novel Californian Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains with Enological Potential”
• Poster: Mitchell Davey, Washington State University, Tri-Cities, “Examining the Role of Frost Damage on Leaf Composition to Unravel the Mystery of the ‘Frost’ Taint Wine Phenomenon”

“ASEV is deeply committed to fostering the future of the grape and wine industry by supporting students through scholarships and educational opportunities,” said ASEV Board President and Oregon State University Professor James Osborne. “By investing in the next generation of viticulture and enology professionals, ASEV helps ensure continued success and innovation within the field.”

Additionally, ASEV has created the ASEV Foundation to help cultivate the next generation of grape and wine industry leaders. While the Foundation does not yet fund scholarships, it is building the resources to support future scholarships and educational opportunities for students and industry professionals. The ASEV Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and accepts tax-deductible donations year-round. To learn more or contribute, visit asevfoundation.org.

Founded in 1950 by a group of researchers and winemakers, ASEV is dedicated to the interests of enologists, viticulturists, and others in the fields of wine and grape research and production throughout the world. The Joint ASEV 77th National Conference and ASEV Eastern Section’s 50th Annual Meeting will be held at the Boise Centre in Boise, Idaho on June 15-18, 2026. For more information, visit asev.org.