The Flathead Valley Community College Foundation’s 18th annual Grand Wine Tasting event welcomed more than 400 guests for gourmet foods, fine wines, a fast-paced live auction and a program focused on expanding student scholarship support. 

The event raised more than $250,000, providing a full year of college for more than 40 students.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown to our FVCC students this year. The energy at Grand Wine Tasting and at the private dinners throughout the week was remarkable and reflects how strongly this community believes in our students and their dreams,” said Chief Development Officer Tagen Vine.

Two unforgettable dining experiences leading up to the main event paired exceptional cuisine and wine with scholarship support. The first dinner was held at Herb & Omni in Whitefish, crafted by Chef Earl Reynolds. Next was Chef Andy Blanton and FVCC’s Culinary Institute of Montana’s private home dinner in Bigfork, offering high-end culinary artistry with real-world learning for the college's culinary students.

Later that week, the Grand Wine Tasting event featured nearly 60 different wine tastings through event sponsor Summit Beverage and three dozen small plates to sample from FVCC’s Culinary Institute of Montana along with local restaurants and caterers. 

The live auction included standout packages such as the exclusive re-creation of Blanton’s James Beard House dinner on the FVCC campus by Blanton and his students in addition to a private fishing trip guided by Vine, complete with riverside lunch prepared by FVCC Culinary Institute of Montana instructor alum Chef Dan Moe.

During the program, FVCC Transformational Scholarship recipient Taylor Sheehan shared her educational journey and how a life-changing accident inspired her to pursue her passion for nursing.

“I was in a car accident that left me with a spinal cord injury and a million questions about what my life would look like. In one of the lowest times of my life, my nurses still found ways to make me laugh. They encouraged me. They coached me through hard moments and some of my hardest days. I want to be that same light for others that my nurses were for me when I needed it most. Scholarship support has allowed me to focus on learning, to dedicate myself to becoming the best nurse I can be, and to keep moving forward when things feel overwhelming,” said Sheehan.

The Transformation Scholarship, created through the FVCC Foundation in 2013, awards up to $10,000 to each recipient to assist need-based students in achieving their dream of higher education. All proceeds from Grand Wine Tasting events directly benefit student scholarships at FVCC.

Nearly 80% of degree-seeking students receive some sort of financial aid, and in 2024, the foundation awarded over $2 million in scholarships to students at FVCC. A $5,000 donation supports a student for an entire year, while $10,000 provides funding for a full associate degree.

All proceeds from FVCC’s Grand Wine Tasting events support student scholarships at the college.