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

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

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

• Ramsey Arram – North Carolina State University, The Art & Millie Lancaster Scholarship
• Kristopher S. Criscione – Louisiana State University, The James & Faye Foret Scholarship
• Landon Erbrick – Auburn University, The Sally Smith Scholarship
• Haley Jacobs – Oklahoma State University
• Kayla Morrison – Oklahoma State University
• Brooks Parrish – University of Florida, The Richard J. Hackney Scholarship
• Jenny Ryals – Mississippi State University, The Lee C. Howell Scholarship
• Brandan Shur – North Carolina State University, The Arthur A. "Buck" Jones Scholarship
• Charlotte Simmons – Tennessee Technological University, The Dr. Bryson L. James Scholarship
• Josh Tebow – University of Arkansas
• Laura Whaley – University of Tennessee
• Tyler Williamson – University of Georgia, The Robert L. Vanlandingham Scholarship
  

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

“Congratulations to this exemplary group of students who have excelled academically and demonstrated determination 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 will make an effective and positive contribution to our industry in the future. I look forward to seeing their accomplishments 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, announced their collaboration in creating a common application form for their respective scholarship programs. This partnership makes it easier for students to apply for multiple scholarship programs at once and mitigate the time-consuming application process. Feedback from this year’s applicants confirmed the process was easy 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 their educational goals. With this year’s awards, the fund has awarded a total of $626,000 since it was established in 1989. The fund’s current assets are now more than $950,000.

Nine named funds have been 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” Jones Fund, 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 or company, 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 made annually in the designated name.

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

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment 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 horticultural leaders, 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 way to ensure the growth and development of all facets of the industry. The fund derives its income from individual and corporate contributions and is governed by the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund board of directors.

An application for 2024 scholarships will be available in early 2024. For those interested in receiving scholarship information or the latest fund news, visit sbmsef.org, call 678-813-1880, email info@sbmsef.org or write to PO Box 801513, Acworth, GA 30101.

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