Columbus, Georgia July 22, 2009 - Twenty students are attending college this year, each with the help of a $5,000 scholarship from the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. The IPCPR has awarded $600,000 in scholarships at the rate of 20 per year since 2004. This year’s recipients include the following:
Michael Grantz of 16808 Winding View Tr. in Fisherville is majoring in environmental studies at the University of the South. Grantz was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Cox’s Smokers Outlet.
Spencer Consolvo of 9153 Estate Thomas in St. Thomas is majoring in economics at Vanderbilt University. Consolvo was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Shell Seekers, Inc.
Farren Neuhauser of 2070 Washington Lane in Meadowbrook is majoring in linguistics at Temple University. Neuhauser was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Black Cat Cigar Co.
David Petrich of 1073 Laverne Ave. North in Lake Elmo is majoring in HVAC repair at the Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis. Petrich was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Perfect Ash.
Casey Gianforte of 109 Hickory Dr. in Downington is majoring in business at the University of Delaware. Gianforte was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by G&G Cigar Company.
Jeffrey Stelly of 162 Quail Circle in Sunset is majoring in business administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Stelly was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Piper’s Haven.
Alaine Ramsburg of 8233 Sheridan Lane in Eden Prairie is majoring in business management at Gustavus Adolphus College. Ramsburg was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Cigar Jones.
Paul Ostin of 36B North Howell St. in Hillsdale is majoring in political science and business at Hillsdale College. Ostin was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by David’s Dolce Vita, LLC.
Teresa Marino of 10 Sioux Lane in Ringwood is majoring in elementary education at Neumann College. She was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Santa Clara, Inc. of Burlington, North Carolina.
Gregory Koebel of 11809 Summer Stream Dr. in Richmond is majoring in industrial and systems engineering at Virginia Tech. He was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Havana Connections.
Elizabeth Dean of 9874 Wetzel Road is majoring in animal science at Ohio State University. She was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Boston Stoker, Inc. in Vandalia, Ohio.
Caroline Drinkwater of 4548 Westway in Dallas is majoring in Spanish and business at the University of Texas at Austin. She was sponsored by Cigar Vault in Dallas.
Courtney Poehler of 2501 Clear Ridge Dr. in Garland is majoring in elementary education at the University of North Texas. She was sponsored by J.C. Newman Cigar Co. of Tampa, Florida.
Stephen Castro, Jr. of 14721 Carriage Mill Dr. is majoring in business administration at Clemson University. Castro was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Davidus Cigars.
Jayson Parsons of 613 Corbett Canyon Rd. is majoring in communications at Cuesta College. Parsons was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by The Boss Cigars.
Kristen Weigers of 906 Bluff Dr. in Round Rock is majoring in biomedical science at Texas A&M University. Weigers was sponsored for the IPCPR scholarship by Pipe World.
Martin Saitta of 1436 Emerald Hill Way in Valrico Florida is majoring in aerospace engineering at the University of Florida. Saitta was sponsored by El Sol Cigars.
Daniel Workman of 2220 SW 12th Place in Boca Raton, Florida is majoring in international affairs at George Washington University. He was sponsored by Altadis USA, Inc.
Anthony Reyes of 4134 Sabal Ridge Circle in Weston, Florida is majoring in finance and management at the University of Central Florida. He was also sponsored by Altadis USA, Inc.
Andrew Bond of 1321 SE 3rd Avenue of Pompano Beach, Florida is majoring in chemistry and biology at Florida Atlantic University. He was sponsored by Alec Bradley Cigar Corp.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a spouse, child or employee of an IPCPR member, maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 and write an essay on a topic supplied by IPCPR. The topic this year asked if the Federal Government should apply excise taxes to high-sugar, high-fat foods as it has with tobacco products.
Founded in 1933, IPCPR is a not-for-profit association of some 2000 members worldwide. The association is primarily comprised of small, family-owned businesses including cigar store owners and manufacturers and distributors of premium cigars, pipes, fine tobaccos and related accoutrements.
