SavATree, a provider of tree and shrub care in the Northeast, is helping students climb higher.
Two students – Jonathan Dubé of Central, S.C., and Gregory Shinn of Wall, N.J., – each were awarded $2,500 scholarships to help complete their studies in horticulture.
The SavATree Sensational Scholarship Program was developed to reward students who exhibit a strong passion for the environment and the outdoors and who possess an impressive combination of academic and non-academic credentials.
“We believe that investing in today’s students helps build a wealth of arboricultural and horticultural enthusiasts to preserve and enhance our outdoor surroundings for future generations to enjoy,” explained Daniel van Starrenburg, president of SavATree/SavALawn.
Dubé is a senior at Clemson University. He is president of the horticulture club and Golden Key International Honor Society Member. His interest in plants started as a young child, enjoying the family garden and harvesting vegetables. His work experience first at a local orchard caring for fruit crops and then building his own lawn/landscape business solidified his desire to purse a career in horticulture.
“One of my greatest satisfactions in life is to design and install a beautiful landscape and watch it grow,” Dub comments. “The SavATree Scholarship will allow me to finish my degree and study Urban Forestry abroad this summer.”
Shinn is a senior at Delaware Valley College focusing on ornamental horticulture. He is president of the Interclub Council, an Eagle Scout, volunteer firefighter and community educator at the Philadelphia Flower show for the past three years. Also exposed to gardening and nature at an early age, Shinn appreciates the intangible benefits plants provide.
“I think that by pursuing a career in horticulture I can continue to bring aesthetic beauty into many lives while maintaining the health of the environment,” he notes.