Plant Science Scholarships

American Floral Endowment (AFE)

AFE Scholarships in Floriculture and Horticulture

  • AFE has more than 30 scholarships that are awarded each year, ranging from $500-$ 5,000.
  • Eligibility: Sophomore through graduate-level college students pursuing degrees in floriculture and horticultural fields only. Applicants must be pursuing a career in or related to floriculture or horticulture, be a citizen or resident of U.S. or Canada or be enrolled in an accredited education institution in the U.S. or Canada, have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • Apply
  • Deadline: May 1st of each year

AFE Intern Scholarship Programs

  • The Vic & Margaret Ball and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship programs include a paid internship, along with a scholarship upon successful completion of the internship.
  • Apply at AFE Internships
  • Applications for internships are reviewed twice a year (March 1st and October 1st)

AmericanHort Scholars

The AmericanHort Scholars program is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are attending 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. The focus of the program is on professional development, including attending educational sessions, networking, and working with industry mentors at Cultivate. 6 students are chosen each year.

Applications available in fall

Apply for AmericanHort Scholars

American Society for Horticultural Science Scholars Award (ASHS)

Two annual scholarships in the amount of $1,500 will be given to each of two undergraduate students major in horticulture at a four-year institution of higher education who meet the criteria listed. Applicants must be nominated by the chair/head of the department in which they are majoring, but only one applicant per department may be nominated.

Eligibility: Undergraduate student of any class standing at the time of application registered as a fall-time student actively pursuing a degree in horticulture, academic excellence, participation in extracurricular, leadership and research activities, commitment to horticultural science profession and related horticultural experiences.

Deadline: February 4, 2023

Apply

American Society of Agronomy Awards and Scholarships

Awards are available for both undergraduates and graduates recognizing academic achievement and leadership. Explore the many opportunities offered and check the eligibility criteria for each.

Deadline: March 23rd

Apply

Bartlett Tree Foundation Inc. At-Large Scholarship

Available to students in CAHNR interested in arboriculture or urban forestry, awarded by the Bartlett Tree Foundation.

Crop Science Society of America Awards and Scholarships

Awards are available for both undergraduates and graduates recognizing academic achievement and leadership. Explore the many opportunities offered and check the eligibility criteria for each.

Deadline: March 23rd

Apply

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Scholarship

Eligible students must be entering their junior or senior year or be graduate students in any certified college or university, be legal residents of Connecticut (have a Connecticut Drivers License and/or be registered to vote here) and be majoring in one of the following fields: Agronomy, Botany, City Planning, Conservation, Environmental Studies, Floriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Land Management, Landscape Design, Plant Pathology, or allied subject. They must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and demonstrate financial need.

Deadline: July 1st of each year

Apply

Garden Club of America Scholarships

The Garden Club of America offers 29 merit-based scholarships and fellowships in 12 areas related to conservation, ecology, horticulture, and pollinator research. In 2022, over $350,000 were awarded to 78 scholars. Available to graduates and undergraduates, check eligibility for each award.

Deadlines: early January-February

Apply

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Scholarships

Students pursuing careers in the golf course industry can apply for GCSAA awards, grants, and programs. There are applications for undergraduate and graduate students, check each for eligibility.

Dr. James Watson Fellowship Program: Applicants must be candidates for master's or doctoral degrees in fields related to golf course management. Deadline: Oct 1.

The GCSAA Scholars Competition: Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program in a major field related to turf management, have completed at least 24 credit hours or the equivalent of one year of full-time study in the appropriate major, and be a member of GCSAA. Deadline: June 10th

Allan MacCurrach Jr. Award: Applicants must be enrolled in a college or technical school and majoring in a field related to golf course management, planning a career as a superintendent or related profession, be 23 years of age or older and be a GCSAA member to be eligible. Applications open March 1, and close June 1. 

Horticultural Research Institute Scholarships

Undergraduates enrolled in a two- or four-year institution in a landscape/horticulture program. Personal essay required, check for eligibility.

Applications for the 2022-2023 school year are accepted between February 15, and June 1, 2023.

Apply

Howard Jennings Scholarship

This award is funded by the Jennings family and friends, in memory of Howard Jennings, former nursery manager at Summer Hill Nursery and member of the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association. The grant will be in the amount of $500. This is a one-time grant to a CT student, who has been accepted by the University of Connecticut, majoring in the field of Horticulture in either the 2 or 4-year program.

Students applying must meet the following:

  • Be residents of the State of Connecticut, and may attend either in state or out of state institutions.
  • Be a high school senior or currently enrolled at the college level, majoring in a horticulture-related field.

Deadline: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

More CNF Scholarship information can be found here.

Click here to apply.

Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship

The Joseph Shinoda Memorial Foundation is committed to assisting students to complete their education in floriculture or horticulture or a closely related field. Each year scholarships are awarded to worthy students. Criteria for awards are career goals, work and extra-curricular experience, financial need, and grades. Awarded to undergraduate students attending a two or four-year university or first year only of graduate school specializing in floriculture or a closely related field. Awards range from $500 - $7,000.

Deadline: April 25

Apply

Lud and Marie Hoffman Scholarship

The scholarship will be based on academic achievement, financial need, and non-school work related to horticulture. The applicant must be accepted into a course of study beneficial to the Horticultural industry.  This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Ornamental Horticulture
  • Landscape Design
  • Nursery Management
  • Greenhouse Management.

Students applying must meet the following:

  • Be residents of the State of Connecticut, and may attend either in state or out of state institutions.
  • Be a high school senior or currently enrolled at the college level, majoring in a horticulture-related field.

Deadline: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

More CNF Scholarship information can be found here.

Click here to apply.

Michael Johnson Scholarship

This scholarship is for students who are a non-traditional learner. They will be considered on their enthusiasm, diligence, aspirations, and potential as a valued member of the horticultural field.  The CT Nurserymen’s Foundation believes that these factors should not be considered limitations to success in our industry.  Instead, we want to offer an opportunity to allow all individuals who are looking for assistance to have a fair and unbiased chance to be recognized for what they can offer the industry.

If you have a love of plants and are interested in going into the nursery/horticulture field and this describes you, we urge you to apply for this scholarship. CNF will fund one student in the amount of $2,500 per semester/$5,000 per year.

Students applying must meet the following:

  • Be residents of the State of Connecticut, and may attend either in state or out of state institutions.
  • Be a high school senior or currently enrolled at the college level, majoring in a horticulture-related field.

Deadline: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

More CNF Scholarship information can be found here.

Click here to apply.

New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association Annual Scholarship

Each year the NEV&BGA awards two scholarships for $1000 each.

The awards are given to students who demonstrate financial need, commitment to agriculture, with a preference to students studying an agricultural field. Funds are given directly to the awardee to be used to buffer the costs of their education by purchasing textbooks, necessary technology, or other expenses.

Applicants who display outstanding leadership in their community will be awarded the John Howell Leadership Scholarship.

Applicants are welcomed to apply annually throughout their college career.

Please forward any questions regarding the scholarship to the Association Secretary Chris Grant secretary@nevbga.org

Deadline: March 4th, 2024

More NEV&BGA Scholarship information can be found here.

Click here to apply online.

Perennial Plant Foundation Scholarships

Five (5) scholarships awarded for $1,000 each. Awardees will attend the Perennial Plant Association's National Symposium.

Eligibility: Undergraduate students from a two-year, four-year, or graduate certificate (Canada) program with a major or minor in horticulture or a related field such as environmental science, landscape architecture, or agribusiness. Graduate students in the above fields. Minimum in-major 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Application opens late winter/early spring each year

Apply

Professional Grounds Management Society Scholarships

Applicants must be current students of horticulture, at least in their first year of college, or recently graduated from high school, sponsored by a PGMS member, and studying landscape and grounds management, turf management, or a closely related field. 

2024 Scholarship application information will be available in December 2023.

Apply

Proven Winners Horticulture Scholarship

4-Year University Scholarship: Students must be enrolled full-time in a four-year university in the U.S. or Canada and be at least a sophomore during the academic year. Master’s and Ph.D. level students are also eligible. Students needed to have at least one year of school left before graduation and must be enrolled in Horticultural Science or related fields. At least three $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually.

Technical or 2-year institution scholarship: enrolled full-time in an accredited Technical or 2-year post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada. Incoming and established students with at least one year of classes left are eligible. Must be enrolled in Horticultural Science or related fields. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Proven Winners will award five $2,000 scholarships annually.

Deadline: April 15

Apply

Soil Science Society of America Awards and Scholarships

Awards are available for both undergraduates and graduates recognizing academic achievement and leadership. Explore the many opportunities offered and check the eligibility criteria for each.

Deadline: March 23rd

Apply

Sports Field Management Association Scholarships

For students pursuing a career in the sports turf industry. Undergraduates and graduates are judged on academics, cumulative grade point average, experience in turf management, and provided references.

Paul Zwaska Scholarship, Darian Daily Scholarship, Dr. James Watson Graduate Scholarship, Dr. James Watson Scholarship for Graduate, Four-year and Two-year students, Dr. Fred Grau Scholarship.

Deadline for all Scholarship/Grant Applications is Oct. 15

Apply

Sustainable CT Fellowship Program

The Sustainable CT Fellowship Program places highly qualified fellows across the state’s Councils of Governments (COGs) to help cities and towns become registered, certified, or recertified with Sustainable CT during the summer. The COGs serve as Connecticut’s regional planning organizations. Click here for more information on COG locations.

Fellows will assist cities and towns within the various COG territories and will assist on COG projects that align with Sustainable CT goals. Fellows may or may not be physically sited in a COG office; there may be opportunities for hybrid work locations.

Fellows will gain valuable experience working within a professional setting and will be directly engaged with cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, local government operations, and regional coordination and operation. Fellows will build a deep professional network that spans across local, state and regional government, as well as with nonprofits and organizations supporting sustainability initiatives in the state of Connecticut. Hear from former Fellows about their summer experience.

More information can be found here.

Deadline: 5:00 pm EST, February 19, 2024

Apply by mailing all application materials to Dorothy Piszczek at dorothyp@sustainablect.org.

The Keller Scholarship in Conservation Horticulture

The Keller Scholarship in Conservation Horticulture, up to $5,000 each year, is awarded annually by The Garden Club of America and BGCI-US to undergraduate students. Scholars pursue experiential learning, with access to BGCI programs and resources, at a botanic garden in the United States.

 

Learn more at: https://www.bgci.org/job/fellowship-in-conservation-horticulture-bgci-us-the-garden-club-of-america/

Deadline: Applications must be submitted electronically or sent by mail to be received at GCA Headquarters in New York City by January 15 of each year.

Apply

The Muir Way Scholarship

There’s nothing more important than the environment, both in terms of necessity and the love for adventure it can teach. There are many ways to become involved in conserving and appreciating the environment, in a variety of different career industries. A traditional path to pursue is environmental science, while other opportunities include GIS (geographic information system mapping) and even cartography. This scholarship seeks to support students who are pursuing higher education and careers related to environmental conservation.

Qualifications: (a) Two or four-year undergraduate student with non-profit or volunteering experience (b) Student must be pursuing environmental science or a major related to environmental conservation.

Deadline: November 27, 2023 

Apply

Page last updated: 2/23/2024