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Oct 20, 2023

Sidney B. Meadows Fund awards $24,000 in scholarships to horticulture students

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund, created in 1989 by theSouthern Nursery Association, has announced that 12 students from 10 southeastern universities have been chosen to receive

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund, created in 1989 by theSouthern Nursery Association, has announced that 12 students from 10 southeastern universities have been chosen to receive academic scholarships this year.

Eight of the awards arenamed scholarships honoring past industry leaders or loved ones. This year’s awards were $2,000 each,totaling $24,000.

Scholarship recipients are determined through a competitive application process, administered by aselection committee, based on academics, determination, demonstrated interest in the horticultureindustry and financial need. This year’s recipients were chosen from a very competitive group ofapplicants. Of the twelve students, seven are graduate students, and five are undergraduates.

“Congratulations to this exemplary group of students who have excelled academically and demonstrateddetermination and a passion for horticulture,” said Danny Summers, executive vice president of the fund.“We continue to hear from recipients how important these awards are in reducing their financial stress, allowing them the ability to concentrate more on their studies. I am confident each of these students willmake an effective and positive contribution to our industry in the future. I look forward to seeing theiraccomplishments as they complete their studies.

This was the first year the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund and the HorticulturalResearch Institute (HRI), two leading scholarship granting foundations in the green industry, announcedtheir collaboration in creating a common application form for their respective scholarship programs. Thispartnership makes it easier for students to apply for multiple scholarship programs at once and mitigatethe time-consuming application process. Feedback from this year’s applicants confirmed the process waseasy and the ability to apply for more than one scholarship (if eligible) was a real plus.

The financial support offered by the fund has allowed many students the opportunity to work toward theireducational goals. With this year’s awards, the fund has awarded a total of $626,000 since it wasestablished in 1989. The fund’s current assets are now more than $950,000.

Nine named funds havebeen pledged to date: The Larry D. Edwards Fund, the Dr. James & Faye Foret Fund, the Richard J.“Dick” Hackney Fund, the Lee C. Howell Fund, the Dr. Bryson L. James Fund, the Arthur A. “Buck” JonesFund, the Art & Millie Lancaster Fund, the Sally Smith Fund and the Robert L. Vanlandingham Fund.

For those interested in establishing a named scholarship to honor a loved one, past industry leader orcompany, named scholarships are established with a commitment for $30,000, with a minimum of$5,000 to begin and fulfillment over the next five years. Once established, a scholarship will be madeannually in the designated name.

Those interested in supporting horticultural students in the Southeast can visit sbmsef.org fordetails.

The Sidney B. Meadows ScholarshipEndowment Fund is a 501(c)3 corporation providing scholarships to students pursuing a career in horticulture who are residents of 16 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The scholarship is dedicated to one of the most honored horticulturalleaders, the late Sidney B. Meadows, a past president of the Southern Nursery Association and an avid supporter of student scholarships who believed that providing aid for students was an important wayto ensure the growth and development of all facets of the industry. The fund derives its income fromindividual and corporate contributions and is governed by the Sidney B. Meadows ScholarshipEndowment Fund board of directors.

An application for 2024 scholarships will be available in early 2024. For those interested in receivingscholarship information or the latest fund news, visit sbmsef.org, call 678-813-1880, email [email protected] or write to PO Box 801513, Acworth, GA30101.

HRI, established in 1962, has provided scholarship and grant funding in excess of $9.5 million. Bothorganizations recognize the importance and value of education in this field and are dedicated to helpingstudents pursue their studies. To learn more, visit hriresearch.org.