Cincinnati State Technical and Community College announces new scholarship for its Brewing Science programs

A $5,000 scholarship for students enrolled in Cincinnati State Technical and Community College's Brewing Science programs was recently created and will be available for the fall 2021 semester. The scholarship money, along with an additional $5,000 for sustainability in brewing education, comes from MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati. Representatives from MadTree Brewing say the scholarship is intended to promote diversity in the industry.

Cincinnati State President Monica Posey expressed gratitude to the brewery in a news release announcing the scholarship. "We thank MadTree for their thoughtfulness and generosity in helping students in Cincinnati State's Brewing program. Investing in our students has a great return for the workforce and our region," Posey said.

MadTree Brewing employs many graduates of the Brewing Science programs at Cincinnati State. One of those alumni is Brittany Frey, who also is a board member of the local chapter of the Pink Boots Society, an organization that focuses on encouraging women to enter the field of brewing beer. Frey is the production manager at MadTree and reflected on her time at Cincinnati State, "We had great instructors who had been in the industry for a while and it felt like I was getting more than I was paying for. By the time I left the program, I felt confident that I had made a good step forward."

Director of Strategic Impact at MadTree Brewing, Rhiannon Hoeweler, explained that the company wants to improve diversity in the industry and said that it hopes to further that goal through this scholarship program. "We believe change comes through representation. We started with education because we wanted to be a part of systemic change. By starting at the root of an issue-– like easing the financial barrier for education-– we help make it easier to join the industry. And the more we diversify the brewing industry, the better we will make it," Hoeweler said.

The $5,000 donation for teaching about sustainability in the Brewing Science program will fund classes and labs, covering topics such as the treatment of solid waste and wastewater resulting from the brewing process.