Davey awards Arbor Grant scholarships

 

Each year, Davey Tree awards $1,000 merit-based scholarships to the best and brightest students in the green industry across the U.S. Over the last 25 years, Davey Tree has donated more than half a million dollars through its Arbor Grant program.

 

Still, the Davey Foundation, of Davey Tree, strives to give more to students than they did the year before.

 

At the end of 2015, Davey presented 50 students with Arbor Grant scholarships, an 11 percent increase from 2014.

 

Students across the nation could not be happier for the extra help as tuition costs continue to rise.

 

“It was such a blessing to receive this award and be able to focus even more on my studies this semester,” said Nelson Geary, a 2015 Arbor Grant winner. A current landscape management student at Brigham Young University in Utah, Geary learned of the Arbor Grant program during his 2015 summer internship at Davey.

 

To be eligible for an Arbor Grant scholarship, students must be enrolled in a two- or four-year program that focuses on forestry, urban forestry, arboriculture or another green industry field.

 

Throughout the year, R.J. Laverne, manager of education and training, and Shawn Skilton, administer of educational resources, answer any questions and prepare the applications for final review.

 

Together, Laverne and Skilton collaborate with Mark Noark, Davey’s manager of recruiting and training, and the recruiting department. The team works together to select winning applicants based on their academic history, letter of intent and faculty reference. 

 

“In 2015, we had over 152 Arbor Grant applicants – the highest number to date. When I began managing the program in 2003, we only awarded 18 scholarships. I’m incredibly excited to see the program and students’ enthusiasm for green industries grow,” said Noark.   

 

That enthusiasm goes both ways.

 

“Receiving the Arbor Grant impacted my appreciation for Davey Tree. A company that wants their employees to be educated and offers funds to help them achieve it is exceptional in my eyes,” said Anna Detoro, a 2015 Arbor Grant winner.

 

Detoro learned of Davey Tree when Noark demoed tree climbing during a class in her urban forestry program at Kent State University. Soon thereafter, she began interning at the Davey Institute, where her supervisor introduced her to the Arbor Grant program.

 

“Having a student work for us and receive a scholarship is the perfect marriage. We get to give them hands-on industry experience while ensuring they continue their academic studies,” said Noark.

 

Davey internships provide students with work opportunities that align with their majors and their interests.

 

“The whole Davey internship was a whirlwind learning experience,” said Jack Rowell, a 2015 Arbor Grant winner and forest resources management student at West Virginia University. During his internship at Davey, Rowell completed lab work at the Davey Institute, surveyed trees for tree inventory programs and even participated in an Asian Longhorned Beetle eradication project.

 

“Anyone interested in the industry should definitely give Davey Tree a try,” said Arbor Grant winner Casey Johnson, a forestry and natural resources student at Purdue University in Indiana. 

 

“Davey treats you with respect and gives you what you need to succeed. They offer a lot more than just a job,” said Johnson, who has worked for Davey Tree every year of his college career.

 

Davey encourages green industry students or interns to apply for an Arbor Grant scholarship. Send applications, or questions, to education@davey.com by Sept. 2016.

 

A complete list of 2015 Arbor Grant winners is below.

 

Ted King, Alleghany College of Maryland

Danny Metz, Alleghany College of Maryland

Abigail Bruce, Auburn University

Spencer Saunders, Auburn University

Nelson Geary, Brigham Young University 

Daniel Hedden, California Polytechnic State University

Guy Hernandez, California Polytechnic State University

Emma Coleman, Clemson University

Tyler Stefancin, Cuyahoga Community College

Kelly Overby, Cuyahoga Community College - Eastern Campus

Sue Walker, Hinds Community College

Eric Fanslau, Hocking College

Jackson Savage, Hocking College

Brady Kohlenberg, Hocking College

Julia Schwager, Iowa State University

Levi Vogt, Kansas State University

Kodi Stebner, Kent State University

Anna Detoro, Kent State University

Pamela Sears, Kent State University

Rachel Grinwis, Michigan State Universisty

Peter Hoch, Michigan Technological University

Alexander Helman, Michigan Technological University

Rachel Gauthier, Michigan Technological University

Jacob MacDougall, Mid-State Technical College

Wes Gill, Mississippi State University

Srividya Krishnan, Mt. San Antonio College

Andrew Herzog, Ohio State University - Agricultural Technical Institute

Scott Mendenhall, Oklahoma State University

Daniel Noel, Penn State University

Hamza Mastroddi, Penn State University – Mont Almo

Taylor Souders, Penn State University

Casey Johnson, Perdue University

Casey Snyder, South Dakota State University

John Moore, Stephen F. Austin State University

Grace Knott, State University of New York – Cobleskill

Megan Jackson, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Cari Klarich, Tulsa Community College

Katherine Ziemlak, University of Massachusetts – Amherst

Michael Bahe, University of Minnesota

Maggie Harthoorn, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Bryce Crunkilton, University of Wisconsin

Luke Scheberl, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

Taylor Lewnadowski, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

Jessica Schultz, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Sarah Cross, Utah State University

Louise Cohn-Still, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Michael Webb, Virginia Tech

Mary Marvel, West Virginia University

Jack Rowell, West Virginia University

Matthew Zuccari, Western Kentucky University