Scholarship & Research Grants

" The world is a beautiful place. I have chosen a career in horticulture and landscaping for the simple reason that I want to help home and business owners create the beautiful landscapes they have always wanted. I have had the opportunity to work as a landscaper for several years. I love working with my hands outdoors to improve the areas around me."

Andrea Carroll, 22 years old, is the recipient of the Peter Van Well Sr. Scholarship, in the amount of $2500.
School: Columbia Basin College
Major: Horticulture
Goal: To become a landscape architect and to own my own nursery. Later on in my career I would like to start a plant conservatory/arboretum to be able to educate the public about the importance of plants & trees.

"I have a huge passion for learning about all different trees and plants and it gives me great satisfaction to be able to educate others with my acquired plant knowledge. Knowing that there is so much out there to learn about horticulture really stimulates my desire to continue working in the field. I have an immense desire to continue to work in the field of horticulture because of the satisfaction I receive from stewarding the land and educating people about plants."

Connie Doe Mayo, 51 years old, is the recipient of the George Gillett Scholarship, in the amount of $1500.
School: South Seattle Community College
Major: Landscape Design
Goal: To become a landscape designer creating small landscape spaces and custom container work.

" I would love to teach people about the gifts that being in the garden can give you. I also would love to work with women who have been in abusive situation and teach them how to ground themselves in the garden as well as gather skills to help them establish themselves in the working force."

Colleen Fink, 23 years old, is the recipient of the Olympic Chapter Scholarships, in the amount of $2500.
School: South Seattle Community College
Major: Landscape/Horticulture
Goal: To become a residential landscape designer.

"I’ve been surrounded by beautiful plants most of my life. Early on, my mother introduced me to gardening as a hobby. Once on my own, I discovered my passion for plants and an innate talent for understanding the elements of a great garden design; order, unity and rhythm."

Katherine Kellogg, 53 years old, is the recipient of the Leno Bassett Scholarship, in the amount of $1000.
School: Lake Washington Technical College
Major: Environmental Horticulture
Goal: I wish to work in the field of horticulture.

"I don’t have a solid plan, since I’m only in my first quarter of study and each new area I’m exposed to is really fascinating."

Kyle Lesser, 19 years old, is the recipient of the Bert Snyder Scholarship, in the amount of $2500.
School: Big Bend Community College
Major: Undecided
Goal: To establish a career in landscape architecture and design.

"Growing up on a small farm, I have always enjoyed the outdoors and working with my hands. From a very young age, I knew that I would one day make a career choice that would allow me to do this."

Zayra Navarrete Pelayo, 20 years old, is the recipient of the Ray Holmberg Scholarship, in the amount of $2000.
School: Lake Washington Technical College
Major: Horticulture
Goal: To work at my father’s landscape business and upon his retirement assume management.

"I’ve realized that being in horticulture has been in my blood all this time. I look forward to going to school to learn because I want to make sure that when it’s time to take over, I am as prepared as possible."

Jeffrey Richardson, 25 years old, is the recipient of the Jim Brown Scholarship, in the amount of $1000.
School: University of Washington
Major: Environmental Horticulture
Goal: To eventually obtain my Masters in Horticulture and find a job within the field of Public Gardens.

"After arriving in Seattle after graduation from Kalamazoo College, I fell in love with the landscapes and plant life of the city. Aside from the effect this had on my own enjoyment of everyday life, I also saw how it affected others. I wanted to pursue a career that could bring that simple, fundamental benefit to the greater population."

Patrick Schwartzkopf, 26 years old, is the recipient of the Windsor Bond in the amount of $2000.
School: University of Washington
Major: Master of Environmental Horticulture
Goal: Public education and outreach

"This program will assist me in my future goals of public education and outreach. I feel this is an important problem to address; teenagers are currently more captivated to Ipods rather than to pea pods. I will hope to engage and make plants fun again for them."

Johanna Wolff, 44 years old, is the recipient of the Marland Edwards Scholarship, in the amount of $1500.
School: Clark College
Major: Horticulture/Landscape Architecture
Goal: To work in the field of landscape architecture

"Landscaping was a talent I believe I was born with and didn’t know it until a few years ago thanks to my husband. He has inspired and helped me to realize what my talent is and to live out the dream."

Grants
Rhododendron Species Foundation – Retail Sales Internship, is the recipient of the Fred Palmer Scholarships, in the amount of $1600. "The Retail Internship is designed to augment classroom training with actual work experience. The student will work with RSF staff to price and arrange plants available for sale, assess effective plant sale strategies, and keep the sales area looking attractive. Students have the opportunity to work with unusual and rare plants and to take into consideration their care and landscape uses. The RSF also features unique and elaborate container gardens that the interns will be required to learn to care for and maintain." - Rick Peterson

Elisabeth C. Miller Library, is the recipient of the Herbert & Marion Frost Scholarship, in the amount of $550.
"This grant will allow the Library to purchase new publications…, expanding the materials we are able to make available to many students and further supporting their studies."