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CLEVELAND – Lawn & Landscape has announced the winner of its annual Richard Foster Award, which recognizes outstanding students planning careers in the landscape, lawn care or horticulture business.
The winner is Patrick Vaillancourt, a senior at the University of Maine with a major in horticulture, a specialization in turfgrass and a minor in business.
The senior stood out in a crowded field of more than 40 applicants thanks to his broad base of industry knowledge and the strong desire to learn more about the technical and business sides of the landscape industry. He’s taken on extra coursework from Penn State’s turf program, and is an active member of his school’s horticulture club.
“It’s always difficult to choose just one winner for this award,” says L&L Editor Chuck Bowen. “The quality of all the applicants is a testament to the talent coming into the landscape business. I’m confident that Patrick will continue to develop into a true leader and make a positive difference in the green industry.”
Vaillancourt also started his own business, Northern Turf Management, in 2012, and has operated it while maintaining a full course load and a cumulative GPA of 3.45. He recently successfully bid a large job for the Maine Department of Transportation for extensive vegetation management. He has reached out to other industry professionals to learn and develop his own skills, is a member of PLANET and earned his landscape industry certification.
“It is satisfying to see a student apply classroom knowledge to real life. He has already begun his career and has a thriving landscape business,” Dr. Lois Stack, a professor of ornamental horticulture and sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine, wrote in Vaillaincourt’s letter of recommendation.
To be eligible for the $2,500 scholarship, students must be enrolled at a recognized two- or four-year college or university working toward a degree in horticulture, environmental science or other field related to a segment of the green industry.
“I am extremely proud of the position I have already earned as a rising professional in the industry, and am excited about moving forward with the same passion and pride for many years to come,” Vaillaincourt wrote in his application.
In 2011, Lawn & Landscape and its parent company, GIE Media, the leading media company serving the lawn and landscape, golf course, nursery, greenhouse and garden center markets, established a fund to support academic scholarships for outstanding college students focused on leading in the green industry.
For more information about the scholarship, visit www.lawnandlandscape.com/horticultural-scholarship.aspx.