2023 Scholarship Winners

Proven Winners^® Innovations in Horticultural Marketing Scholarship Winner
Scholarship for $5,000

Maci Carter
Harrington, DE
University of Delaware

I have a passion for horticulture and an interest in marketing, which allows me to help my family’s produce and flower stand succeed. Through my experience working for my family business, promotional ideas, and passion for flowers, I believe that I can make a difference in the horticulture industry. I plan to accomplish effective marketing of flowers, varieties, and horticultural education for my family business.

Rick Schoellhorn Grower Excellence Scholarship Winner
Scholarship for $5,000

Jackson Bobo
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University

I would love to use my expertise in that area to advance, upgrade, and improve substrates to work more efficiently for plants and develop growing media that is more sustainable for the environment. I want to be a part of and manage teams of researchers, board members, and business developers in order to enhance the experience of consumers interacting with horticulture. It is my hope that through my work, large scale green industry corporations and the general public alike can be better informed horticulturists.

Ushio Sakazaki Innovations in Plant Breeding Scholarship Winner
Scholarship for $5,000

Brooks Parrish
Wimauma, FL
University of Florida

I plan to pursue a career in plant breeding for an ornamental horticulture company. There is no
greater feeling than having a grower attend a breeding trial field day and light up when they see
what is coming to market in the next year. All of this is to say, my goal in horticulture is to
support nursery growers through my work in the lab producing new, vibrant flowering plants,
and to ensure that there is always a young scientist excitedly waiting to do the same.

 Proven Winners^® Technical or 2-Year Post-Secondary Institution Scholarship
Scholarship for $2,000

Many horticulture students begin their post-secondary schooling at 2-year or vocational technology schools as a way to enter the work force sooner. Since horticulture tends to be a very hands-on career with much knowledge gained through work experience, this is an excellent way to break into the industry. We are proud to support exemplary students who have chosen this route for their schooling and wish them the best of success for the future.

Catherine Shook
Canton, GA
Chattahoochee Technical College

Scholarship for $2,000

My long-term vision is to open a center of Horticultural therapy and action. I envision building a space in my community that reaches out intertwining individual-based therapy, group therapy, and classes that help people enjoy the benefits of gardening. I have a special place in my heart for people with learning differences. I would love for my therapy center to help those with special needs learn skills that can help them work on landscape crews. I want to develop horticultural programs that help individuals with limb differences use adaptive tools in adaptive spaces so that all individuals of all abilities can reap the benefits of working and healing in the landscape.