San Luis Obispo, Calif. – Horticulture students from across the nation recently received an investment in their future as the Shinoda Foundation awarded its prestigious scholarships.
“With these awards we honor horticulture’s best and brightest,” said Paul Ecke III, president of the Shinoda Foundation. “We know as they grow, the industry will grow with them—and that’s an immeasurable investment.”
The Shinoda Foundation Board of Trustees awarded 11 scholarships this year totaling $19,500. In addition, to further advance horticulture education nationwide, the Foundation sends a portion of the awards to educational institutions. Winners’ academic departments receive 10% of the awards to students in their department. This year’s college and university awards total $1,950, bringing the total distribution to $21,450.
The Foundation selects its recipients based on rigorous criteria including career goals, academics, work experience, extracurricular activities and need.
Shinoda Foundation Scholarships
2012-13 recipients of the Shinoda Foundation Scholarships include:
- Kathleen Collins, Senior, Colorado State University, $1,500
- Lucas Fedechko, Senior, Pennsylvania State University, $1,500
- Kelly Hermann, Junior, University of Missouri – Columbia, $1,500
- Adam Ingrao, Senior, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, $2,500
- Sarah Leach, Senior, North Carolina State University, $2,500
- Jessie Nielsen, Sophomore, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, $1,000
- Kristin Potter, Sophomore, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, $1,000
- Billy Rose, Junior, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, $2,000
- Ryanna Zoellner, Junior, University of Georgia, $2,000
Floral Design Scholarships
The Shinoda Design Center awards scholarships recognizing exceptional floral design majors at community colleges in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties. For 2012-13, Noemi Garcia of Southwestern College (Chula Vista) received $500.
Los Angeles Flower Market Scholarship
Adam Ingrao, a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is the recipient of this year’s Los Angeles Flower Market Scholarship. The award was created through the Foundation’s directed scholarship program, which provides a simple way to make a lasting tribute to a cherished family member or colleague, or to recognize the importance of an entire company.
California Floral Council Scholarship
This year’s recipient of the California Floral Council (CFC) Scholarship is Billy Rose of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. CFC President Hardy Neuendorff created the annual award in 2005 to help offset rising education costs.
About the Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship Foundation
The Shinoda Foundation was established in 1964 under the auspices of the California State Florists’ Association in memory of the late Joseph Shinoda, a highly regarded pioneer of that state’s floral industry. The foundation’s purpose is to encourage educational opportunities for young people interested in entering the industry. Incorporated as a separate entity in 1972, the foundation has awarded scholarships valued at more than $760,000 to nearly 650 undergraduate floriculture students since 1965.
Information about applications for the Shinoda Foundation’s scholarships is sent each January to horticulture and floriculture departments at universities across the nation. Applications are available on the foundation’s website and accepted from January until March 30 each year.
Information about making contributions to the foundation or about its scholarship program can be obtained from its website, www.shinodascholarship.org, or by writing to: Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship Foundation Inc., 962 Pecho St., Morro Bay, CA 93442, or Pat Broering at pbroerin@gmail.com.
Source: Joseph Shinoda Memorial Scholarship Foundation
