Two Oregon Brewers among Michael James Jackson Foundation (MJF) new Scholarship Recipients
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (the MJF) has announced a new round of technical education scholarships for people of color, including 2 members of Oregon’s brewing community.
Seven emerging professionals were chosen for the 10th round of MJF scholarships that help strengthen not only their individual careers but also the craft beer and spirits industries at large. With this new group, the MJF has now supported more than 70 awardees in accessing world-class brewing and distilling education.
Oregon’s own Dashawn Agbonze of Von Ebert Brewing and Alexis Chanes of pFriem Family Brewers are both receiving the prestigious recognition from Garrett Oliver's nonprofit.
MJF scholarship awardees are advancing into production leadership roles, elevating quality standards, expanding the technical talent pipeline, and helping the industry grow in a way that is more skilled, more competitive, and more representative of the communities it serves. By removing financial barriers to world-class training, the MJF is helping build a stronger, more resilient future for breweries and distilleries nationwide.
These scholarships will enable recipients to pursue some of the most respected brewing and distilling education programs in the world. Each individual was selected by the MJF Scholarship Review Panel based on demonstrated drive, technical curiosity, and a commitment to contributing to the long-term health and evolution of the industry.
2026 Scholarship Awardees — 10th Cohort
Dashawn Agbonze, Von Ebert Brewing — Siebel/Doemens Master Brewer Program
Abraham Barnes, Green Bench Brewing Company — UC Davis Master Brewers Certificate Program
Keyah Boyd, Augusta Distillery — CIBD Diploma in Distilling
Alexis Chanes, pFriem Family Brewers — American Brewers Guild Intensive Brewing and Science Program for Working Brewers
Ricardo Cortes, Los Angeles ALE — MBAA Brewery Maintenance Systems
Nick Flores, Evil Twin Brewery NYC — MBAA Brewery Maintenance Systems
Sarah Real, Hot Plate Brewing — UC Davis Master Brewers Certificate Program
“With this tenth cohort, the MJF not only reaches a major milestone, but also surpasses seventy scholarship recipients overall, each of whom brings new skills and perspectives that strengthen our industry’s future,” said Garrett Oliver, Founder and Chair of The Michael James Jackson Foundation. “Technical education is one of the most powerful investments we can make as a beer and spirits community. When more talented people gain access to advanced brewing and distilling production training, every part of the industry benefits, from product quality, to innovation, to leadership development. This cohort represents that future, and we’re honored to support them.”
Since its founding in 2020, The Michael James Jackson Foundation has worked to close gaps in access to professional-level education for people of color in the craft beverage industry. Through ten cohorts and more than 70 awardees, the MJF is helping to build a stronger, more diverse, and more technically equipped workforce, an outcome that directly supports the long-term health, competitiveness, and creativity of breweries and distilleries across the country. This impact is powered by donors, industry partners, and a shared belief that the success of the craft beverage community depends on widening, not narrowing, the path to opportunity. The MJF believes that a broader production community will go hand-in-hand with an expanded consumer community.
About The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (the MJF) is a grant-making nonprofit that funds technical education scholarships for people of color within the brewing and distilling trades. Founded in 2020 and named in honor of legendary beer and spirits writer Michael Jackson, The MJF aims to create lasting change by investing in technical education and professional development for those historically underrepresented in these industries. To learn more, visit www.themjf.org.