The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research division of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA), announced the recipients of its scholarships for 2008.
The HRI awarded the 2008 Usrey Family Memorial Scholarship of $1,500 to Amanda Rosa.
Rosa is a senior at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Louis Obispo. She is majoring in Environmental Horticulture Science. She serves as chairperson of the Environmental Horticulture Science Department and official College of Agriculture Ambassador at Cal-Poly. After Ms. Rosa graduates she would like to apply to Cal Poly’s graduate program to earn a teaching credential in high school agricultural education.
Susie and Bruce Usrey of Monrovia Growers in Azusa, Calif., established the Usrey Family Scholarship in 2001. The Usrey family considers graduating students in horticulture to be the lifeblood of the green industry. The scholarship is awarded annually to horticulture students enrolled in a California state university or college.
The HRI awarded the 2008 Muggets Scholarship of $1,500 to Kaythryn Sanford.
An informal group called the Mugget Growers of America (MGA) began in 1981 as a social, educational and fundraising group. Each year MGA participants meet at the ANLA Management Clinic to discuss important plant issues while contributing to the Muggets scholarship fund.
MGA members understand the importance of having qualified and quality professionals within the green industry. MGA supporters hope to help aspiring students from across the country obtain a degree in horticulture with this scholarship.
The ANLA's 2008 Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow. Jr. Scholarship of $2,500 was awarded to Kayla Harrison.
Harrison is a senior horticultural student at the University of Rhode Island. She is an active member of the National FFA Organization and University of Rhode Island horticulture club. After she graduates she would like to work within the green industry working in a greenhouse or wholesale business.
Ryan N. Contreras was awarded the ANLA's 2008 Spring Meadow Scholarship of $2,500.
Contreras is a graduate student at the University of Georgia where he is majoring in horticulture. He received his undergraduate degree in horticulture from the North Carolina State University. Contreras is a member of the American Society for Horticulture Science and University of Georgia horticulture graduate student associate. After graduation he hopes to obtain a professorship at a land grant university and continue his research in plant breeding and genetics.
Finally, the ANLA awarded the 2008 Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship of $4,000 to Gerrit Shuffstall. Shuffstall is a full-time graduate student of landscape architecture at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md. His interests include urban design and soil sciences. In 2008 he served as the vice president for the American Society of Landscape Architects, Morgan State University chapter, and he has volunteered with the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association’s street tree planting program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing from Mercyhurst College, Erie, Pa in 2000.
The Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship was established in 2002 by HRI and the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Inc. (MANTS). This scholarship serves to memorialize Mr. Carville M. Akehurst who served the horticultural industry as one of the founders of MANTS. MANTS, an association formed from the state nursery and landscape associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, together with HRI, have established this scholarship with the belief that the strength and future success of the horticulture industry lies in the solid education of today’s students.
HRI was established in 1962 as the research arm of ANLA. Those wanting more information about HRI grant programs or making a gift to HRI should contact Teresa Jodon at 202/789-2900 or fax 202/789-1893.