A newly established partnership between Revolver Brewing Company and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Food Science and Technology will help minority and underrepresented students pursue careers in the brewing industry.
“The Revolver Brewing Education Scholarship will open up opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds who have traditionally been underrepresented in food science, including the brewing industry,” said Bhimu Patil, Ph.D., interim head of the Department of Food Science and Technology. “That untapped talent will benefit our academic programs and strengthen the workforce by bringing different ideas and perspectives to this industry.”
He expects the scholarship will attract students from Texas and out of state to study brewing and fermentation science at Texas A&M University.
Patil said the department’s priority to recruit more minority and underrepresented students is in harmony with Revolver Brewing’s goals. The scholarship will attract new talent and help students meet their financial and educational needs.
Corporate partnership supports inclusive excellence
“At Revolver Brewing, we understand that for us to grow as a company, we need diverse talent and thinking within our organization,” said James Gleaves, president of Revolver Brewing. “That’s why we offered the scholarship at Texas A&M; we need people with a food science background. Our goal is to bring in more inclusive talent, not just at the manufacturing level, but also in management and executive roles.”
Funds from the endowment will provide up to two scholarships annually. Each recipient will receive $2,500 and can apply for a summer internship at Revolver Brewing.
Gleaves said the scholarship’s objective is to alleviate financial, racial, gender and social-background barriers so more students can further their careers with a company like Revolver Brewing or its parent company Molson Coors Beverage Company.
Molson Coors donated $50,000 for the scholarship as part of its social justice initiative to support organizations focused on social justice, community building, equality and empowerment. The scholarships are available to minority and underrepresented students, including women, LGBTQ+, Hispanic, Black, American Indian, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander. Students should also be seeking to pursue a career in fermentation and brewing sciences after completing their degree at Texas A&M University.
Molson Coors offers similar programs at Colorado State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Students benefit from the collaboration between academics and industry
To broaden their classroom theoretical and analytical skills, scholarship recipients can interview with Revolver Brewing for an internship to gain hands-on experience in a fast-changing industry. Those selected will work on varied projects that may involve fermentation, product packaging, product innovation and consumer trends.
“From a talent-pool perspective, we can look to bring in new expertise to run different aspects of our brewery — roles that we would love to fill with high-quality talent from a school like Texas A&M,” Gleaves said.
After their internship, students will bring real-world skills related to industry needs back to their campus studies.
“This industry experience will enrich our students’ experience and enhance the collaboration between industry and the university,” Patil said. “Keeping our curriculum attuned to industry allows our students to gain relevant expertise that will help them move into successful careers in this expanding industry.”
Application process begins in October
The first Revolver Brewing Education Scholarships will be awarded in spring 2022 for the 2022-2023 academic year. The application process opens Oct. 15 and closes Feb. 1. Students can apply at https://tx.ag/applyscholarships.
“We’re looking for students who have a vision of what they want to do in life and how their education will pave the way for future career success, impact society and address food security and sustainability,” Patil said.
Recipients will be selected by the Department of Food Science and Technology scholarship committee based on academic achievement, extra-curricular activities and financial need.
Applicants must be
- Full-time students in good standing.
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in food science and technology from Texas A&M.
- Interested in brewing or fermentation science.
- Classified as a sophomore or junior.
- Maintaining a grade point ratio of 3.0 or higher.
The scholarship is a long-term initiative for Revolver Brewing, said Gleaves.
“This is about creating opportunities for people. Our path forward is to have a diverse group of minds working at our company to help grow our business to be the No. 1 craft beer in Texas.”
