News

EHHS senior named Apple Ambassador

Heather Grace Wetzel, a rising senior at East Henderson High School, has been named Apple Ambassador for the 2024 North Carolina Apple Festival.

By Lightning Reports, Published: June 24, 2024

Heather Grace Wetzel, a rising senior at East Henderson High School, has been named Apple Ambassador for the 2024 North Carolina Apple Festival, the festival announced.

The daughter of Ronaliz and Kevin Wetzel, Heather will be awarded a $2,000 college scholarship upon graduation from high school in June 2025. She will attend all four days of the festival and will also represent the festival at the N.C. Mountain State Fair as well as other events across the state throughout the year.

“I am looking forward to connecting with local apple growers and learning more about the apple industry that has shaped Henderson County into the joyous town it is today,” she said upon learning she had been chosen. Heather plans to use her scholarship to become a physician assistant or nurse practitioner with her ultimate goal to “travel the world helping folks in countries with great medical needs.”

The Apple Ambassador program, which provides two scholarships each year, is open to all rising seniors in Henderson County.

This year’s runner-up is Rayne Ashley English, is also a rising senior at East. She will be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship. 

Jamie Fraser Wright, of West Henderson High School; Kruesi Elizabeth Graham and Reese Emerson Redden, of Hendersonville High School; and Maryn Braddy and Alexzander Hunter Jacobs of North Henderson High School were also chosen to represent their schools for interviews and to join Wetzel and English at the festival and on this year’s Apple Ambassador float.

Applicants for the scholarship are required to submit their transcripts, list of activities, provide letters of recommendation and write an essay on the Apple Festival and the importance of the apple industry to this area. The Apple Ambassador is selected based on this information and through an interview process. 

The Apple Ambassador and runner-up are awarded the Evelyn Lutz Hill Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship honors Hill, who served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Apple Growers for many years.

The Apple Festival is held every year over Labor Day weekend. This year it will be Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in downtown Hendersonville.