Practicum Site Application

Are you interested in being actively involved in the development of a knowledgeable and well trained workforce for the grape and wine industry? We invite you to host a VESTA student at your vineyard or winery and to serve as a mentor as the student completes their course requirements.  These field experiences enable students to enrich (or apply) the knowledge gained in their online courses and, where feasible, develop the skills needed to enter and advance in the industry. 

Depending on the course, students are expected to participate in activities at the site for period ranging from 8 to 194 hours.   VESTA provides a Student Assessment Form which describes the course specific experiences proposed for each Field Practicum. A general list of targeted activities can be found on the VESTA website http://vesta-usa.org/Students/Field-Practicum.   We expect mentors to be knowledgeable and experienced in the activities proposed for the students.  This enables the mentor and student to focus their time and effort more effectively.  We provide points of contact to assist you in the documentation of the student’s experiences.  In recognition of your efforts in support of the VESTA program, mentors can receive a stipend.

Thank you for your interest in the VESTA program and your willingness to serve as a mentor to our students. Please complete the following form. Upon receipt of your application form, a VESTA representative will be in contact with you.

If you have any questions before submitting this form, please contact Charles (CW) Kelley, VESTA Marketing Coordinator, (CharlesKelley@missouristate.edu, 202-340-7175).

VESTA National Center of Excellence