Rohnert Park, Calif.—Cooperages 1912 announced it is donating $10,000 per year for the next five years, $50,000 in total, to the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. The donation directly benefits the Wine Industry Scholars Program, created to fund scholarships for first-generation college students.

The move reflects the company’s ongoing support of wine education programs throughout the United States, including partnerships with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; California State University, Fresno; Univeristy of California, Davis; Washington State University and University of Missouri. Cooperages 1912, is a fourth-generation, family-owned company that produces oak barrels under the brands T.W. Boswell and World Cooperage.

“Sonoma County has been good to us over the years. It’s important to give back to help the community flourish and support the students who are the future of the wine industry," said Elizabeth Van Emst, general manager of Cooperages 1912, in the press release announcing the donation.