Sidney B. Meadows Fund awards $24,000 in scholarships to 12 students

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund, created in 1989 by the Southern Nursery Association (SNA), has announced the names of 12 students from 10 southeastern universities 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. Awards are being presented to the following excelling scholars:

• Phiala Drake, Texas Tech University
• Landon Erbrick, Auburn University (Sally Smith Scholarship)
• Kathryn Glenn, Clemson University (Arthur A. "Buck" Jones Scholarship)
• Elliott Kenney, University of Maryland - College Park
• Cassie Marbach, Texas A&M University (Dr. James & Faye Foret Scholarship)
• Grace Ramsey, Stephen F. Austin State University (Lee C. Howell Scholarship)
• Charlotte Simmons, Tennessee Tech University (Dr. Bryson L. James Scholarship)
• Meg Smolinski, University of Maryland (Art & Millie Lancaster Scholarship)
• April Sprague, Oregon State University (Richard J. Hackney Scholarship)
• Jonah Trevino, Texas Tech University
• Evan Villani, North Carolina State University
• Tyler Williamson, University of Georgia (Richard 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 12 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 second year the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) collaborated 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.

With this year’s awards, the fund has awarded a total of $650,000 since the fund was established in 1989. The fund’s current assets are now more than $1 million.

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.

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.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be pursuing a career in horticulture and be residents of one of 16 southeastern 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 the late Sidney B. Meadows, a past president of the Southern Nursery Association, who was an avid supporter of student scholarships and 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.

The application for 2025 scholarships will be available in early 2025. Those interested in receiving scholarship information or the latest fund news can subscribe to the automated information system on the fund’s website, sbmsef.org.