Connecting Classrooms to Greenhouses Through Internships
October 2, 2025 | 1 min to read
Faculty advisors visited interns on-site through the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program, with AFE covering travel so professors can observe students’ daily work. This summer Candice Musgrove joined Dr. Kimberly Williams at Pure Beauty Farms in Miami to see intern Alana Wood, one of nine undergraduates placed by the Ball and Mosmiller programs, which connect students with hands-on greenhouse, nursery, and floral industry experience.
One of the most distinctive aspects of our Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program is the opportunity for faculty advisors to visit their students on-site during their internships. With travel expenses covered by AFE, these visits let advisors see their students in action, while students gain the opportunity to walk their professors through their daily responsibilities and learning experiences.
This summer, our Program Manager Candice Musgrove had the chance to join Dr. Kimberly Williams, Professor of Greenhouse Management at Kansas State University, for a visit to Pure Beauty Farms in Miami, Florida, where Alana Wood was completing her internship.
Alana is one of nine undergraduates participating in our Vic & Margaret Ball and Mosmiller Internship Programs this year. Together, these programs connect students with hands-on opportunities at commercial greenhouses, nurseries, and floral businesses nationwide, allowing them to bridge the gap between the classroom and the industry.
To learn more about the experience, please visit American Floral Endowment.