ROOTED IN FRANCE

Cherita Cherrell, MBA Candidate

Rooted in France Scholarship Recipient

In 2021, The Rooted in France Scholarship was launched. The scholarship, sponsored by Domaine Dujac & Friends and BSB Foundation was created to provide an educational experience for HBCU students/alumni pursing Bachelor's degrees. The Roots Fund saw an opportunity to create awareness around the wine industry, through the Black college community. Most HBCUs have agriculture and business programs that correlate to the wine industry. Our goal was to build a bridge, and we did.

Led by Dr. Jérôme Gallo, the Burgundy School of Wine & Spirits Business is in the top 1% of business schools around the world. The Masters/MBA of Wine focuses on wine business, entrepreneurship, advanced WSET courses, and management skills. The Master of Science in Wine Management (MSc) program allows students to obtain a global vision in the wine industry and also gain management and financial skills in spirits and beer industries.

Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to gain their Masters of Science in Wine Management and/or an MBA in Wine. The MBA program is geared towards post-graduates with professional work experience, while the MSc program is a great fit for the aspiring professional.

Cherita, a proud Grambling graduate was awarded a full scholarship to The Burgundy School of Wine & Spirits Business in France, to pursue a Master of Science in Wine Management and an MBA in Wine & Spirits business. Learning alongside some of the most passionate people in the industry, while creating everlasting relationships to advance their careers in the world of Wine & Spirits. The scholarship is open on January 1st.

-Cherita is our 1st “Rooted in France” MBA candidate, 2023


Who is a perfect candidate to receive The Roots Fund Scholarship?

  • Must receive a bachelor’s degree by June 2023 from a HBCU (Agriculture, Hospitality & Tourism, and Business degrees also accepted)

    OR must be an HBCU graduate in the past 10 years that has been employed in the wine industry, business field, or hospitality business

  • Minimum 3.2 GPA

    Must have a US passport (must be valid at a minimum through 2026)

    Must pass a background check

    Must be fully vaccinated

    Must display a strong interest in wine

    Must be able to commit to 18 months in France

    The program starts the first week of September 2023

    Must work in the wine industry during Summer 2022 prior to departure (coordinated by us)

    Must complete WSET level 2 by July 2022 (coordinated by us)

    Must be 21+ years age by August 2023

    Copy of transcripts must be added to the application