HRI opens applications for 2024-25 school year

The Horticultural Research Institute is accepting applications for the HRI Scholarship Program for the 2024-25 school year. The HRI Scholarship Program, made possible by generous donors from across the industry, assists students pursuing careers in horticulture by providing financial support for their education.

Numerous endowed scholarship funds have been established to support the academic journey of motivated students and ensure the continuity of the nursery and landscape profession. These funds include the Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship, Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship, Bryan A. Champion Memorial Scholarship, Mugget Scholarship, Spring Meadow - Proven Winners Scholarship, and the Wright Family of Alabama Scholarship, among many others.

Eligibility requirements and application details for all scholarships can be found on the HRI website. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $5,000, and the recipients are selected by the HRI Scholarship Review Panel, based upon criteria established by the donors. Applications may be submitted online for the 2024-25 school year now through May 31, 2024. As in 2023, HRI is partnering with the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund on a common application, which allows students to apply for both scholarship programs at once and mitigate the time-consuming application process.

HRI is also pleased to celebrate the program’s current school year scholarship recipients. These scholarship recipients for the 2023-24 school year showcase a diverse and talented group of students pursuing degrees in various horticultural disciplines. Their dedication to the industry, academic achievements, and future career goals illustrates the robust and vibrant future that awaits the field of horticulture.

The 2023-24 scholarship recipients are:

• Ramsey Arram, North Carolina State University – Spring Meadow-Proven Winners Scholarship, $4,000
• Anna Baloh, University of Kentucky – Spring Meadow-Proven Winners Scholarship, $4,000
• Landon Erbrick, Auburn University – Spring Meadow-Proven Winners Scholarship, $4,000
• Cassandra Madru, University of Massachusetts Amherst – Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship, $2,000
• Kayla Morrison, Oklahoma State University – Spring Meadow-Proven Winners Scholarship, $4,000
• Debasish Paul, North Carolina State University – Mugget Scholarship, $1,000
• Lillian Pinkelman, Ohio State University – Bryan A. Champion Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
• Yufei Qian, University of California, Davis – Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship, $500
• Jorge Millan Rodriguez, California Polytechnic University – Usrey Family Scholarship, $1,000
• Lauren Staley, North Carolina State University – Wright Family of Alabama Scholarship, $2,000
• Katelyn Wissinger, Virginia Western Community College – Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship, $5,000
• Yongjun Yue, University of Georgia – Spring Meadow - Proven Winners Scholarship, $4,000

For more information about the HRI Scholarship Program and the scholarship funds, click here.