AmericanHort announced the recipients of its 2018 HortScholars program.
The HortScholars program aims to identify future leaders and give them a platform to network, grow and work at the North America horticulture event, Cultivate ’18. The program chooses six applicants each year and offers a beyond-the-classroom experience, according to AmericanHort.
“AmericanHort received an unprecedented number of applicants from across the country to the HortScholars program this year,” said Mary Beth Cowardin, AmericanHort’s vice president of marketing and member engagement. “This program has become very competitive, and we take this as a positive indication that the younger generation is indeed interested in establishing a career in horticulture.”
The 2018 winners include:
- Carly Dalton – Horticultural technician, Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Canada;
- Melissa Eggleston – Horticultural science, minor in agribusiness management, Michigan State University;
- Coralie Farinas – Plant pathology, Ph.D. candidate, The Ohio State University;
- Rhiannon Newton – Horticulture, West Virginia University;
- Raymond Odeh – Masters of horticultural science, University of Florida; and
- Aaron Sledge – Horticulture, plant production emphasis, Pennsylvania College of Technology.
The HortScholars will be on-site at Cultivate beginning Wednesday, July 11 in Columbus, Ohio.
While there, they will help with setup, network with industry leaders and attend multiple education sessions, including CareerUP, a one-day workshop tailored to emerging horticulture professionals to help expand their professional skills, define their future and navigate the green industry career ladder.
