Q&A with the 2016 Mosmiller scholars

Pictured above, from left: Kailey Brooks, Loren Marie Anthony, Jaclyn Nelson. Photos courtesy of Kailey Brooks, Loren Marie Anthony and Jaclyn Nelson.

Since 1975, the American Floral Endowment has provided horticulture and floriculture students with paid training and professional opportunities with a bequest by the late Colonel and Mrs. Walter E. Mosmiller Jr. Colonel Mosmiller, a former retail florist, believed in mentoring and inspiring young people in the floral industry. This year’s scholars will receive $2,000 upon completion of their summer internships:

Kailey Brooks – Plant Science major at the University of Missouri, interning at University of Missouri’s Tiger Garden in Columbia, Mo.

Loren Marie Anthony – Horticulture major at the University of Arkansas, interning at Shirley’s Flowers in Rogers, Ar.

Jaclyn Nelson – Horticulture major with an Entrepreneurship concentration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, interning at Bachman’s in Maplewood, Mn.

We reached out to this year’s scholars to learn more about their internships and career goals.

Q: Congratulations on your scholarship! How did you hear about the Mosmiller internship program?

Anthony: I told [my academic adviser] I was thinking about trying out some sort of horticulture but I wasn’t really sure if I’d be able to do any internships in the area, just because they usually want people who already have the experience… but my adviser thought I’d be a pretty good fit for [the Mosmiller program], so I applied, and I got it!

Nelson: It’s advertised everywhere throughout my university. I saw [a poster] and thought, “Well, this is perfect! if I can go do what I love to do, and get paid, plus the scholarship, it’s a great deal.”

What will your role be at your internship?

Brooks: It will [take place at] Tiger Garden, at the University [of Missouri], which is a student-run floral shop. I’m in an entry-level position, and I’m hoping to move up and be a designer there. In the shop, I assist in maintaining the shop and flowers, designing pieces to be sent to [University of Missouri] Hospital, assist customers in buying arrangements, and assisting other employees on deliveries. Within Tiger Events [university-sponsored events], I assist in maintaining the area, arrange centerpieces for large events, process fresh flowers, and prepare vases for centerpieces.

Anthony: Right now I’m in sales [at Shirley’s], but I’ll be put in a [rotation] with the other departments and also work in transportation and flower designing.

Nelson: [At Bachman’s] I’ll assist with teaching classes [as well as] design work. Hopefully I’ll get to do centerpieces for their events and help out with everyday orders, like birthday bouquets.

Do you have any specific career goals you’re striving for?

Brooks: I’m hoping to -- right after college -- work at floral farms and learn how flowers are grown, and eventually move to a wholesaler and learn how they’re shipped and packaged. Then hopefully I’ll work for another florist that’s experienced and AIFD-certified [American Institute of Floral Designers], and then go and open up my own floral shop.

Anthony: Overall, I want to be able to do a job where I’m able to give back to other people. When I was younger, I always noticed how society gave [opportunities] to me, but I want to be able to give back.

Nelson: Currently I’m in the process of starting up my own floral business, specializing in larger events and weddings. I’m hopefully on track to start full-time once I graduate … I specialize in floral design, but I’d like to create a team and find somebody who’s great at catering, and maybe photography, to create special events for people, as a one-stop-shop, in a way.

How did you first get interested in horticulture?

Brooks: I’ve always been interested in flowers since I was a kid, but it really started happening my sophomore year of school, when I was on a contest team for [design and arrangement], and I realized that this is what I wanted to do, and that I enjoyed working with flowers and learning the different names and how they’re arranged.

Anthony: My dad is a [science] professor, and my mom is an artist, so I wasn’t sure which I liked more … and so I started gardening and found that that really relaxed me. [In college I] tried out a course called Floral Design, and it was kind of weird for me because I’d taken so many art classes, it was odd to see the teacher present color palettes because I didn’t think that I’d be seeing [art theory and mechanics] inside of a plant class. It was nice in a way because it felt like I was bringing together both the science part and the art side.

Nelson: I started my own little business in 2010. I just started doing corsages and boutonnieres for prom, and it kept me interested. I really enjoyed it, and it wasn’t until my junior year of high school when I realized that this could be a career, [and] I participated in a contest through FFA [Future Farmers of America] that is directly related to floral culture. Basically, I decided that this could be a full-time career. So I changed my major to horticulture, and [within the program] I get everything I’m going to need to be able to run a successful floral business.

American Floral Endowment has a Young Professionals Council. Do you think you’d eventually be interested in membership?

Anthony: Absolutely, that would be really exciting! More than anything, I would use it personally to grow [in my career], then later I would try to open up opportunities for [future members].

Nelson: Yeah, I wanted to apply, but I’m not old enough yet! [I’d like to] get to know people within the industry. As a businessperson you never know when you’re going to need a plumber or a car dealer, and that’s the same thing with the horticulture industry. So I’ll never know who I’ll need in the future to help me out, but also, who I can help out, too.