2017 Scholarships Recipients
BY ASHLEY HODAK SULLIVAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GWA FOUNDATION
GWA Foundation has a long-standing tradition of providing scholarships to students studying in the field of communications and horticulture. For the past 10 years, the organization has awarded outstanding students more than $ 90,000 in financial assistance. This year’ s selection process was difficult because there were so many good candidates; we thank every individual who submitted an application. GWA Foundation is excited to introduce to you our 2017 scholarship recipients.
TONI HUDSPATH Toni is working toward a bachelor’ s degree in horticulture with a focus on landscape design at Kansas State University. She participates in Horticulture Club and the Willow Lake Student Farm Club. These clubs offer the opportunity to use her newfound knowledge and associate with peers who have similar interests. As a member of the National Collegiate Landscape Contracting Team, Toni recently competed in the Woody Plant Identification Event at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Toni is grateful to learn about a field she loves and excited to advance her knowledge.
JENNIFER KLIMOWICZ Jennifer is studying for her B. S. in horticulture at Temple University. She loves all aspects of horticulture and plans to go into a career in horticulture public relations upon graduation in 2018. With a journalism degree from Temple University in 2011, Jennifer is very excited to combine horticulture with writing. Having worked in the digital marketing field for the past several years, returning to school full time in Spring 2016 was a huge change, but very rewarding. Jennifer is very active in the Temple Ambler campus community. She served as Temple Ambler’ s Native Plants Summer Intern in summer and fall, 2016. She currently heads Temple’ s Pi Alpha Xi horticulture honor society as president, is an active member of Temple’ s Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Association( LAHA), writes for the Temple News, volunteers with Temple’ s Contemplative Meditation Club and works at Temple Ambler’ s greenhouse.
ISAAC LUHRS Isaac, a fraternal twin born in Northern California, was reared in Tennessee with five siblings. He attended four high schools, graduating in 2012. Isaac received his A. S. in 2015 from Cleveland State Community College and is continuing his education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the Department of Plant Sciences. Isaac is studying public horticulture and plans to graduate in fall of 2018 with a B. S. He looks forward to a career in gardens and natural resource conservation. Although he does not have a specific job in mind, he is optimistic. He has completed internships with the U. S. Forest Service and the Federal Wildlife Service. Isaac was a 2016 recipient of the Perennial Plant Association Scholarship Award. Also, as young garden designer, he looks forward to watching his most recent works evolve.
JENNA MALTBIE Jenna is a junior at Oklahoma State University, pursuing a major in agribusiness with a double major option in agricultural communications. Jenna currently works at Oklahoma Gardening Television, where she serves as the social media coordinator. As the coordinator, Jenna manages Oklahoma Gardening’ s social media outlets and answers follower’ s questions. Jenna’ s passion for gardening was sown in the seeds she, her mother and grandmother planted together in their garden when she was young. Those precious moments were where she learned some of life’ s greatest lessons and made priceless memories with her family. After completion of her degree, Jenna plans to pursue a career in marketing and sales in the food industry, as well as help educate the public on where their food comes from.
AVERY MARCOTT Avery is a graduating senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with a major in horticulture with a business emphasis. She grew up in the small town of Fountain City, Wisconsin, where she first was exposed to horticulture through her high school greenhouse and FFA. After finding her passion in horticulture, Avery fueled it further by exposing herself to horticulture through course
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