World Tea Academy (WTA) – the leading online tea education and certification program from the organizers of the World Tea Expo Conference + Expo and World Tea News – named Andrea Newby as the recipient of the 2021 Brian Keating Gratitude Scholarship.
Newby will receive free tuition in 2022 towards earning a WTA Certification, which will include seven WTA classes (cost of class kits and shipping is not included in the scholarship). World Tea Academy currently offers two levels of certification and five advanced certification paths. Details on the World Tea Academy certification programs can be found here.
“The World Tea Academy Scholarship is a huge opportunity for me to bring an element of wellness into my outdoor adventures and my community,” shares Newby. “I'm excited to learn more about the history and culture of tea and be able to share my expertise with others.”
A Focus on Tea, the Outdoors and Health & Wellness
A novice to the tea industry, Newby recently opened an outdoor recreation retreat business called Aurora Inn Adventures, which focuses on wellness. The business provides all-inclusive outdoor adventure retreats, incorporating nutrition, mindfulness and reflection into each adventure – from mountain biking, hiking, yoga, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and kayaking. Of course, Newby believes tea fits right in.
“I envision an opportunity to introduce retreat guests to the world of tea while educating them on the health benefits of drinking tea,” she says. “It’s also my vision to make part of the business a tearoom and a tea shop, offering customers the opportunity to taste teas, receive education about tea and purchase quality tea.”
Newby also imagines creating tea blends and tea packets for each Aurora Inn retreat and outdoor adventure. “I envision tea tastings and pairings and educational sessions about incorporating tea into a healthy lifestyle.”
Health & Wellness Is Newby’s Passion
Newby was born and raised in southern Wisconsin, and she attended college and received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nonprofit organizational management from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. For the last 10 years, she’s worked for different community organizations and ran programs related to health, wellness and family relations. She currently lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is the executive director of Gogebic Range Health Foundation, which funds programs that promote healthy living, partners with local organizations to create a more healthy and active community, and invests in programs that positively influence the health of the region.
For Newby, she’s been interested in health and wellness for a while – especially in the outdoors – and she routinely enjoys outdoor recreation with friends and family. Mountain biking and cross-country are her favorites. “I love doing these activities alone, with my fiancé, my friends and with strangers,” she says.
“I think that spending time outdoors, surrounded by nature changes our perspectives on a lot of the things that cause stress in our lives,” Newby adds. “I also think that it provides a space that can create a unique bond with other people. My desire to make healthy lifestyle choices is what led me to discover the benefits of drinking tea and incorporating it into my life and my outdoor adventures. My interest in outdoor recreation, health and wellness and sharing my experiences are also what led me to start my side business, Aurora Inn Adventures.”
Why does tea fit so well with a healthy or adventurous lifestyle? Newby believes that in the outdoor adventure sports world, there is a tendency to rely on the use of a lot of unnatural, high sugar sports drinks and supplements to sustain activity levels, increase energy and aid in recovery. “I think that tea can offer those same health benefits and more. I think that tea can and should be part of a wellness lifestyle.”
‘World Tea Academy… the Most Comprehensive and Reputable Program’
Being from Wisconsin – where they get a lot of cold days and snow – warm drinks like tea were a part of Newby’s community. “I think I really discovered tea in college, along with coffee,” she remembers. “I was drawn to the variety and options of flavor and taste that tea had to offer. There seemed to be a tea blend for any issue or problem I wanted to solve. I have not had any education in tea other than reading the tea boxes, so I am really looking forward to being able to know more about the origins of tea and creating tea blends through the World Tea Academy.”
Newby believes that World Tea Academy can bring a lot of value to her personal tea journey and in terms of incorporating tea into Aurora Inn Adventures.
“When I was searching for educational programs about tea, the World Tea Academy seemed to offer the most comprehensive and reputable program,” says Newby. “I was excited about the advanced classes and the involvement of World Tea Academy in the other aspects of World Tea – World Tea Conference + Expo and the World Tea News.”
Newby notes that she’s honored to be World Tea Academy’s 2021 Brian Keating Gratitude Scholarship recipient. “I'm just so excited to have received this scholarship and the opportunity to be part of the World Tea Academy,” she shares. “I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to learn more about all the aspects of tea – the origins, the history and the culture, to better appreciate something that has been around for so long. I'm looking forward to becoming connected with other tea enthusiasts and to share my knowledge, the resources and information from World Tea Academy with my business and my community.”
According to Newby, earning a certification from World Tea Academy will provide her with the education and background to provide the best knowledge and service to her customers at Auroa Inn Adventures. “I also believe going through the certification would give me the confidence to guide customers in their experience with tea,” she says. “I'm most excited about complementing the retreat experiences with teas that will enhance a customer's experience.”
For now – before she kicks off her World Tea Academy classes – Newby plans to enjoy her favorite spicy teas, including Turmeric and Ginger, Chai and Earl Grey, during the wintery season. For the future, she plans to “pay it forward” through her tea education, by offering her own scholarships to disadvantaged women and girls to participate in wellness retreats (featuring tea) at Auroa Inn Adventures. “I also envision opportunities to provide educational and tasting sessions,” she says. “Thank you to World Tea Academy for the opportunity to experience the world of tea and to grow in my knowledge, bringing it to my small town.”
You can find Aurora Inn Adventures on Facebook and Instagram (the website is launching soon), and you can learn more about World Tea Academy, its classes and certifications at WorldTeaAcademy.com. Questions about World Tea Academy? Email [email protected].
Plan to Attend or Participate in the
World Tea Conference + Expo, March 21-23, 2022
To learn about other key trends, issues and hot topics within the global tea community, plan to attend the World Tea Conference + Expo, March 21-23, 2022, celebrating its 20th anniversary. World Tea Conference + Expo will be co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo, creating unique opportunities and synergy. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
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