We’re excited to announce that 18 California residents are among the first class of the DaySavers Higher Potential Scholarship Award Winners, a first-of-its-kind initiative to help forge the next generation of cannabis industry leadership.
Among the California winners are Grand Prize Winner Talia Romero and six other Top Award recipients.
Consisting of more than 200 prizes totaling more than $25,000, the Higher Potential Scholarship provides opportunities for current and future members of the industry, all donated by 25 different brands, businesses and organizations inside the cannabis space.
This year’s Grand Prize Winner of the $1,420 cash award, sponsored by DaySavers, is Talia Romero of Winton, California. Along with the cash award, Romero also won a mentorship with scientists at the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy and a pass to the MJBizCon conference in Las Vegas.
A member of Sisters of the Valley with a master's degree in economics, Romero left a PhD program in 2021 to fully commit to cannabis work. She plans to put the money toward opening a cannabis research and education center.
“Through all of this, I’ve found my passion: working with cannabis in a way that honors both science and spirit,” Romero wrote in her winning essay. “I’ve also discovered the power of community and collaboration, especially among women.”
Other Top Award recipients from California include:
Hannah Eko of La Puenta was awarded tuition-free seats to the Ganjier Product Specialist program, a mentorship with the Cannabis Ombudsman for the State of Connecticut, passes to this fall’s MJBizCon conference in Las Vegas and a cannabis tourism mentorship with Trinity Madison, founder & CEO of Camp Laughing Grass. Eko is a Coast Guard veteran who founded the Lit Book Club and works to build literature and cannabis community programming;
Alexandra Arnett of Fresno was awarded a mentorship with the Cannabis Ombudsman for the State of Connecticut, a mentorship and media package from Marijuana Venture magazine, and mentorships with scientists at the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy. Arnett is a researcher and educator. She has a Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland and is currently the lead research assistant on a meta-analysis focused on cannabinoids for autism spectrum disorder at California State University, Fresno, where she is pursuing a Master of Arts in psychology;
Ahmed Fahad of Los Angeles was awarded passes to this fall’s MJBizCon conference in Las Vegas, a mentorship with the Cannabis Ombudsman for the State of Connecticut and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of his choosing. Fahad is a healthcare-tech professional turned cannabis advocate, currently in Ganjier training. His goal is to empower craft brands and shape policy and business models that ensure the people who built this industry aren’t locked out of its future;
Jenn Dillingham of Napa was awarded a complimentary membership with Women Employed in Cannabis, a 1-on-1 entrepreneurial advisement from The Mycelia Group CEO Jessica Ferranti, and a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy. Dillingham helped open Napa’s first dispensary, runs an artisan market and plans to open an artisan edible brand that partners with small farms;
Marlee Thompson of Long Beach was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Ganjier Product Specialist program and a cannabis tourism mentorship with Trinity Madison, founder & CEO of Camp Laughing Grass. Thompson is an educator and creator and hopes to open a “Bud & Breakfast” cultivation and event venue; and
Suzie Torres of Needles was awarded a mentorship with the Cannabis Ombudsman for the State of Connecticut, a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of her choosing. Torres owns a bookkeeping firm that serves the cannabis industry and plans to expand into cultivation and product manufacturing.
Other winners from California include:
Rosemary Perez of Fresno was awarded a Scholarship to SUNY Niagara Horticulture Cannabis Courses, and free seats in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of her choosing;
Brian Sousa of Merced was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of his choosing;
Jessica Vasquez of Sacramento was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of her choosing;
Jesus Luna of Oxnard was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing;
Kai Halpern of Oceanside was awarded free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing;
Kendrra Thoms of Gilroy was awarded a consulting mentorship with CEO and host of The Canna Boss Babes podcast, a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing;
Marshawn Wilson of Los Angeles was awarded free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing;
Marvis Brown of San Diego was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing;
Robert Buckner of Arcata was awarded a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, a mentorship with the Cannabis Ombudsman for the State of Connecticut, and free seats in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing; and
Terrah Leveque of Sonoma was awarded a consulting mentorship with CEO and host of The Canna Boss Babes podcast, a tuition-free seat to the Operator Academy, and free spots in the Green CulturED Responsible Vendor Training Program and a specialized certificate program of their choosing.
Winners come from 30 different states and were selected based on their application and personal essay detailing their background, interests, passion and journey in the cannabis space.
The Higher Potential Scholarship Initiative is part of DaySavers’ broader mission to advance cannabis education, equity and industry innovation. Founding sponsors include Custom Cones USA, the DaySavers family of brands, Ganjier, SUNY Niagara and Cannabis & Tech Today, among others.
“These awards will help provide potentially life-changing access to education about one of the fastest-growing and most exciting industries in the country, impacting both the lives of the students and the business of cannabis in general,” said James Valentine, DaySavers’ Communications & Content Marketing Manager and Scholarship Administrator. “This is an investment in people and in the future of the industry.”
Other Higher Potential Scholarship recipients received:
Education & Resources: Tuition-free seats in cannabis programs from Ganjier, SUNY Niagara, Operator Academy, Green CulturED, Veterinary Cannabis Society, and resources from DaySavers, Sage Advice, Women Employed in Cannabis, and CannaSiteCo.
Mentorship: One-on-one developmental mentorships and experiences with industry leaders Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk (Co-Founders of Network of Applied Pharmacognosy), Harrison Bard and Fredrik Rading (Co-Founders of Custom Cones USA), Jessica Ferranti (Founder & CEO of The Mycelia Group), Erin Kirk, Esq. (Connecticut Cannabis Ombudsman), Ashley Manta (Creator of CannaSexual), Trinity Madison (Founder & CEO of Camp Laughing Grass), Ishqa Hillman (Founder & Host of The Canna Boss Babes), and M. Omari Jackson (Founder & CEO of Ganjactivist).
Industry Access: Event access and editorial opportunities through Marijuana Venture, Cannabis & Tech Today, NECANN, IgniteIt Cannabis, CannaCon, The Cannabis Alliance, Fill-a Blunts, and Smoke Temple.
