MEET HRI SCHOLARS

The Wright Family of Alabama Scholarship

Wright’s Nursery & Greenhouse, Inc. is a small, family-owned and operated business located in central Alabama. The Wright family has been farming for many generations and began growing plants in the late 1960’s. They grow a diverse selection of annuals, herbs, perennials, tropicals, and vegetables that are sold at local independent garden centers throughout central and north Alabama. The business started from what most would consider a horrific accident. David Wright, Jr. lost his right arm in a farming accident at the age of 14. He now considers it as one of the best things to have happened to him. Without the accident, they would not have started the nursery and greenhouse business, nor would he have had the chance to attend Auburn University where he earned a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and met his future wife, Martha. Their son, Davy and his wife, Heather, now own and operate the farm.

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Lauren Staley 

North Carolina State University



Lauren is a senior at North Carolina State University majoring in horticulture with a minor in Agricultural Business Management. She completed a two-year transfer program through Alamance Community College where her interest in the industry flourished. She gained her knowledge and skills by working as the greenhouse manager for ACC managing three campus greenhouses and a nursery. Lauren served as the secretary and president for the horticulture club throughout her time at ACC. She attended seminars and events such as the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, the International Plant Propagators Society, and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Inspired by an internship at Plantworks Nursery, Lauren aspires to have a career in Greenhouse and Nursery Management, contributing to the production industry. 

The Spring Meadow—Proven Winners Scholarship Fund

Bright, well-trained, and qualified people are essential to the nursery industry, and that's what inspired Dale and Liz Deppe to create the Spring Meadow—Proven Winners Scholarship Fund in 1999. The fund is dedicated to helping aspiring students from across the country obtain a degree in horticulture. The Spring Meadow team has been blessed by this industry and the mentors who've helped them along the way. This scholarship fund is their way of giving back and sharing the excitement for plants and the nursery industry with others.

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Ramsey Arram

North Carolina State University


Ramsey Arram earned a bachelor's in biology with concentrations in botany and environmental Science from UNC Pembroke.  He has worked as a lead grower on two organic farms and grew over 700 cultivars at Plant Delights Nursery.  He has worked on organic farms and nurseries across the state of North Carolina, and from Sacramento to Orleans in northern California.  He is earning a master's degree in Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University.  He has focused on polyploidy induction experiments that can have effects on fertility and morphological characteristics.  He is a vice president of perennial plants in the Pi Alpha Xi, and an officer of the NCSU Horticultural Science Government Student Association.  Dr. Hsuan Chen worked with him very closely on seven breeding projects in 2023. Ramsey will continue to work for Dr. Chen's Ornamental Breeding and Cytogenetics program at NCSU as his research technician following graduation. 

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Anna Baloh

University of Kentucky


Anna Baloh is obtaining her degree in Horticultural Science with a minor in Sustainable Agriculture and a certificate in Urban and Community Forestry. She conducts undergraduate research that focuses on plant propagation and molecular biology. Anna is also the President of the Horticulture Club at UK and is able to share her love for all things horticulture with students and the community. Anna plans to continue her education by attending graduate school in the future to pursue plant breeding.

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Landon Erbrick

Auburn University



Landon is a senior at Auburn University majoring in Horticulture. His interest in horticulture began when he started with his grandfather. Over time, Landon grew both his skills and industry interest while working for a local landscape company. Landon is the President of Auburn University’s Landscape and Nursery Association, where he works to connect his peers with those in the industry. Landon is an undergraduate research assistant and has presented research at the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) conference. Landon is keenly interested in nursery and greenhouse production and looks forward to one day involving the community through agritourism.

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Kayla Morrison

Oklahoma State University


Kayla Morrison is currently pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Horticulture at Oklahoma State University, having previously earned her Bachelor’s Horticulture Science with a minor in Pest Management in December 2021. A busy mother of three, Kayla is passionate about all things green and blooming and notes that her career ambition sprouts from a desire to cultivate knowledge and sow the seeds of horticultural wisdom in others.

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Yongjun Yue

University of Georgia


Yongjun Yue is a PhD student from Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics at the University of Georgia. He currently works on crape myrtle breeding in the UGA woody ornamental lab to develop new cultivars with novel traits. His interests focus on plant propagation and plant breeding. His future goal is to become a plant breeder working on woody and perennial ornamentals.

The Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship was established in 2002 by the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Inc. (MANTS). This scholarship serves to memorialize Mr. Akehurst who served the horticultural industry as one of the founders of MANTS. MANTS established this scholarship with the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) with the belief that the strength and future success of the horticulture industry lies in the solid education of today's students. MANTS' establishment of this scholarship reflects Mr. Akehurst's firm belief that education begets one the opportunity to achieve.

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Katelyn Wissinger

Virginia Western Community College



Katelyn Wissinger is an undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree in environmental Horticulture. She is currently earning an Associates of Science degree that she hopes to transfer to Virginia Tech where she can complete this major. After graduation her goal is to gain real world experience within the industry before setting up her own small business. She is currently exploring the different areas that she would like to work in such as production of plants and landscape design.

The Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship Fund & The Usrey Family Scholarship Fund

Susie and Bruce Usrey of Monrovia Growers Inc. established the Usrey Family Scholarship in 2001 and the Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship in 2009. The Usrey family considers graduating students in horticulture to be the lifeblood of the green industry. These scholarships are awarded annually to horticulture students enrolled in a California state university or college. 

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Yufei Qian

University of California, Davis



Yufei Qian is a third-year doctoral student in the Horticulture and Agronomy graduate group at University of California, Davis. She is the recipient of the Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship. Qian’s research interest is on the combination of plant breeding and Controlled Environment Agriculture, with a preference on horticultural crops. Yufei completed both her BS and MS degrees at UC Davis. During her PhD time, Yufei trained 14 undergraduate students to operate the UC Davis indoor vertical farm. She hopes to work in the thriving indoor Ag industry in the future.

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Jorge Millan Rodriguez

California Polytechnic University


Jorge Millan Rodriguez is an undergraduate student at California Polytechnic University, located in San Luis Obispo. He is the recipient of the Usrey Family Scholarship. Rodriguez is majoring in Agricultural Plant Sciences with a fruit and crop concentration, looking to delve into the specialty crops industry. His passion began as a child where he grew up visiting various berry fields and accompanying his dad on the job. Jorge’s wishes to foster a more sustainable and automated future for crop growth and explore the world of plant breeding and genetics. In the meantime, however, he will continue to work as a research assistant and at Cal Polys orchard fields.

The Bryan A. Champion Memorial Scholarship Fund

Bryan A. Champion, president of Herman Losely & Son, Inc. in Perry, Ohio, was a 5th generation nurseryman with a passion for the nursery and landscape industry. Champion understood the value of a quality education and the importance of industry research. Bryan passed away on November 10, 2011 at the age of 47. In honor of his legacy and dedication to the nursery and landscape industry, his peers established The Bryan A. Champion Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

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Lillian Pinkelman

Ohio State University



Lillian Pinkelman is a senior finishing her Sustainable Plant Systems Bachelors with a specialization in Horticulture. She discovered her love for horticulture working for her local garden center in high school, and went on to discover what the field had to offer at The Ohio State University Wooster Campus. Lillian grew as a student and future industry professional at her internships for Foertmeyer and Sons NW Greenhouse and Ball Horticultural as the Darwin Perennials Product Development Intern. She is currently planning on graduating in Spring of 2024 and is looking forward to contributing to the innovation of the horticulture industry.

The Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship Fund

The scholarship was created in 1988 by the Bigelow family to aid students from New England who are seeking a career in horticulture. The scholarship was dedicated initially to one of the family's children, the late Timothy Bigelow. At Palmer W. "Bill" Bigelow's death, the name of its creator was added. The Bigelow family considers student scholarships the most important commitment the horticultural industry can make to ensure the growth and development of the nursery and landscape industry. 

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Cassandra Madru

University of Massachusetts Amherst



Cassandra Madru is an undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst working towards her B.S. in Arboriculture and Community Forest Management. She is an arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts in Northampton where she is able to provide tree care based on the industry standards. In the future Cassandra plans on attending graduate school to study entomology.

The Mugget Scholarship

The Mugget Scholarship is one of HRI’s oldest scholarship funds, started by a group of industry folks who used to get together for social events at various ANLA and other industry events. So, what’s a Mugget? The Mugget Growers of America (MGA) was established back in 1981. (I like to imagine that the notion was conceived somewhere near a bar.) The group would meet at various industry events to discuss important plant issues regarding the development of a new (pretend) plant called ‘Mugget.’ During those “meetings,” they’d raise money for Horticultural Research Institute, ultimately creating and growing a scholarship fund of over $50,000.

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Debasish Paul

North Carolina State University



Debasish Paul is pursuing a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. His research focuses on the sustainability of the annual bedding plants supply chain. Before joining NC State, Paul completed a Masters’ degree in Agricultural Production Chain Management at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, supported by the Orange Knowledge Programme Scholarship. Paul aspires to become an academic researcher and focus on making the green industry's supply chain transparent and sustainable to bring about positive changes within the field.

Alumni Scholars

  • 2022-2023 Scholarship Recipients

    Landon Erbrick - Auburn University


    Landon is a junior at Auburn University majoring in Horticulture. His interest in horticulture began when he started with his grandfather. Over time, Landon grew both his skills and industry interest while working for a local landscape company. Landon is the President of Auburn University’s Landscape and Nursery Association, where he works to connect his peers with those in the industry. Landon is an undergraduate research assistant and has presented research at the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) conference. Landon is keenly interested in nursery and greenhouse production and looks forward to one day involving the community through agritourism.


    Carolyn Krauss - University of Tennessee


    Carolyn Krauss is a master’s student in Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Her research aims to improve irrigation efficiency in container grown nursery production. Carolyn earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Georgia, her Bachelor’s Degree in Horticultural Science from the University of Georgia, and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration, concentrating in Data Analytics, from Louisiana State University. Before starting graduate school, Carolyn worked as a greenhouse and garden center manager. Her interests focus on improving nursery and greenhouse production efficiency, and on improving profitability on the business side of horticultural businesses. 


    Jacob Letmanski - Iowa State University


    Jacob Letmanski is an undergraduate student studying Agronomy and Horticulture at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He hopes to go to another university after graduating in 2024 for graduate school, where he will pursue plant breeding. He hopes to eventually work as a plant breeder focusing on woody plants and perennials. 


    John “Jack” Schaeffer - University of Cincinnati


    Jack Schaefer has obtained landscape horticulture associate's degrees from Cincinnati State and is currently pursuing a bachelor's in horticulture from the University of Cincinnati. He is employed at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden where he applies his love of trees and shrubs. Jack believes that plants benefit everyone in the community, and he enjoys improving the lives of those around him with horticultural outreach projects. His favorite part about working at the CZBG is seeing the latest and greatest plant cultivars come in from plant breeders and experimenting with their landscape functionality.


    Sophie Schmidt - Iowa State University


    Sophie Schmidt is a sophomore in Horticulture Research at Iowa State University. Her research interests lie in increasing our understanding of plant genomics and leveraging that knowledge to improve plant breeding, specifically in horticultural crops. Sophie grew up in the Minneapolis area, started her own lawn care business there, and recently completed an internship in plant health at Bachman’s Nursery. Her future educational and research goals include pursuing a master’s and, eventually, Ph.D. in plant breeding or plant genomics. 


    Javiera Diaz-Ortiz - University of Maryland


    Javiera is a senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) and a minor in Sustainability Studies. She is the President of UMD’s SASLA, which is the student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Javiera entered the field of landscape architecture through an interest in environmental conservation, and she has held internships at Patapsco Heritage Greenway, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Sun Nurseries, and Norton Land Design. After graduation, she wishes to pursue landscape architecture with a focus on community engagement and environmental restoration.


    Miguel Soto - Cal Poly Pomona


    Miguel Soto was selected as the Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship Fund recipient for 2022-2023. Miguel is currently and undergraduate student attending Cal Poly Pomona majoring in Agricultural Science. Miguel enjoys working and gaining experience at Altman's Specialty Plants. Following graduation, Miguel would like to continue his studies and work on a master’s degree. His ultimate desire is to become a professor, teaching the next generation of horticulturalists. 


    Omar Abulghanam  - California State University


    Omar Abulghanam was selected to receive the 2022-2023 Usrey Family Scholarship Fund. Omar is an Agricultural Science Technician for both the USDA-ARS and University of California Cooperative Extension in Fresno, California. Omar will receive his B.S. from California State University, Fresno in Fall 2022 and enroll in their master’s program for the Spring 2023 continuing to study soil microbiology. As an agricultural technician, he has played a role in assisting researcher’s study regenerative practices that can benefit the agriculture industry for years to come. Specifically, his interests lie within proper soil management.


    Juan Quijia Pillajo - The Ohio State University


    Juan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. Juan's path in ornamental horticulture began while he was growing ornamental and tropical flowers at his family's greenhouse in Ecuador. In his last position, he conducted field validations of microbial-based products for cut flower production. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Michelle Jones. His research project focuses on the use of beneficial microbes and biostimulants for floriculture crop production.


    Madison Jones - University of Maine


    Madison Jones is a junior, studying Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Maine. Madison started her flower farm (Seal Point Farm) in 2019, when she was still in high school. Upon graduation, she will be working full time at her farm. She started working at a flower farm in high school—working there sparked the idea to start her own flower farm. Madison hopes to give back to the community by exposing school kids to agriculture and holding informative workshops. 


    Katherine Nelson - Auburn University


    Katherine Nelsen is a junior at Auburn University pursuing a double major in Horticulture and hospitality. She is a member of the Horticulture Club and the Alabama Landscape and Nursery Association. Katherine hopes to one day open a botanical themed event venue in her hometown. 


    Johnathan Hampton - Auburn University


    Johnathan Hampton is a senior at Auburn University majoring in Horticulture with a track in Pre-Landscape Architecture, along with minors in both business and Spanish. Johnathan’s fascination for the world of horticulture began at an early age while he tried growing anything he could get his hands on. Johnathan operated his own landscaping business and worked at a plant nursery throughout high school. Johnathan plans to continue graduate studies in Landscape Architecture. He is committed to serving as an advocate for environmental outreach across all educational levels, especially so with respect to African American and other minority communities. Johnathan hopes to create ways to bring horticulture, along with related disciplines such as landscape architecture back to children and adolescents in order to reconnect them to an underappreciated and fascinating world.

  • 2021-2022 Scholarship Recipients

    Luke Owen, North Carolina State Univeristy


    Luke Owen is a first year Master's student studying Horticultural Science at NC State University. Luke grew up on a small family farm where he raised cattle. His intereste in Horticulture and Agriculture was developed while helping his grandparents sell flowers at local farmers markets. Luke hopes to give back to his community by helping local producers and homeowners by working in the Cooperative Extension service as a Horticulture agent.


    John Nix, North Carolina State University


    John Nix is a graduate student at North Carolina State University where he is working to complete his Master of Science degree in Horticultural Science. His interest in plants began with his high school's horticulture program and time spent in the southern Appalachians. He completed his bachelors degree in horticultural science and plant biology at NCSU where he was able to study with the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab. Before starting graduate school he worked as a research and conservation intern at Longwood Gardens and spent time studying British horticulture as the Royal Horticulture Society-Garden Club of America Interchange Fellow.


    Yuvraj Khamare - University of Florida


    Yuvraj Khamare is a PhD candidate at the Department of Environmental Horticulture in University of Florida. His study is mainly focused at weed management in container grown plants. Khamare’s research focuses on developing new methods of weed control by strategically improving the cultural practices used by nursery growers. The goal of his research is to find effective, economical and environment-friendly weed management options.


    Runshi Xie - Texas A&M University


    Runshi Xie received his master's degree in Plant Breeding at Texas A&M University, where he is working towards a doctoral-level degree in Horticulture. He is currently working on a multi-state multi-disciplinary project to combat crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS), an invasive insect attacking crapemyrtle and other woody plant species in the United States. He has a great interest in plant breeding and the study of plant-insect interaction. His works involve developing insect-resistant crapemyrtle cultivars and insect biology-based IPM strategies such as mating behavior for CMBS, leading to innovative and sustainable pest control and management methods for the horticulture industry.


    Meghan Bundick - West Virginia University


    Meghan Bundick is a junior at West Virginia University pursuing a major in Horticulture. She is the President of the Horticulture Club and has worked at the campus greenhouse previously. Meghan has had internships working at Altman Plants in CO, the WVU Organic Farm, and a tree and shrub nursery in her hometown. Meghan hopes to either attend grad school to research sustainability in horticulture or become a grower at a floriculture greenhouse.


    Kiara Benavides - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo


    Kiara Benavides is a fourth year undergraduate student attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Agriculture Science, minoring in Agribusiness, and emphasizing in Ornamental Horticulture. Upon graduation, Kiara will be undergoing the Masters of Agriculture Education program at Cal Poly in hopes of becoming a high school level agriculture teacher. Kiara aspires to teach horticulture and floral related classes. At school, Kiara works at the Poly Plant Shop as a student florist, and interns at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center where she helps conduct research on the effects of different strawberry plant pathogens.


    Priscilla Yoon - California State University


    Priscilla Yoon received the Usrey Family Scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year. She is pursuing a Bachelor's in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at California State University, Northridge. Currently, she is establishing CSUN's first-ever garden club and studying the interactions between plants and animals. After graduation, she plans to incorporate pollinator-friendly plants into her landscape designs.


    Juan Quijia Pillajo - The Ohio State University


    The 2021 Bryan Champion Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Juan Quijia Pillajo. Juan's path in ornamental horticulture began growing ornamental and tropical flowers at his family's greenhouse in Ecuador. In his last position, he worked running field validations of microbial-based products for cut flower production. He is now working on his Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Michelle Jones at The Ohio State University. His current research project focuses on the use of beneficial microbes and biostimulants for floriculture crop production.


    Ankit Sing - University of Connecticut 


    Ankit Singh is a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut (UConn) studying the technical and financial feasibility of the novel GREENBOX technology (USDA funded). Through Ankit’s research with GREENBOX, he aims to further the knowledge of large-scale urban horticulture that reduces the food transportation network’s strain and provides fresh, nutritious produce to the urban populous. Ankit enjoys teaching environmental science and scientific writing to college students and being a graduate mentor to high school students on environmental projects at UConn. Ankit hopes to have a career in sustainability or teaching, and enjoys kayaking, visiting museums, and engaging with the arts in his spare time.


    Brandan Shur - North Carolina State University


    Brandan Shur is a senior undergraduate student at North Carolina State University, she he transferred to during his junior year. From being raised on a peach and apple orchard, to studying Viticulture and Enology for his first degree, horticulture production systems are no stranger to him. Currently, he is doing everything he can to learn and pursue his passion for horticulture and bettering the production of plants. With this, he is working for the Horticultural Substrates Laboratory and completing undergraduate research projects and anticipates to begin graduate school in this program in the fall of 2022. Through these experiences Brandan would like to find solutions to better production systems in our industry and go forward to be a professor in the trade, combining the old school knowledge acquired from his family farm, and the modern science he is currently studying.


  • 2020-2021 Scholarship Recipients

    Erin Pfarr, Rutgers University


    Maria Caplinger, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute


    Lauren Murtagh, University of Connecticut


    Jenna Evans, University of Maryland


    Hunter Hall, University of Mount Olive


    Danielle Ellsworth, Michigan State University 


    Corina Klein, Cal Poly


    Davis Harmon, North Carolina State University


    Sage Drohan, Orange Coast College

  • 2019-2020 Scholarship Recipients

    Nicholas Dzurenda, Virginia Tech


    Felicia Millett, University of Connecticut


    Coralie Farinas, Ohio State University


    Annika Kohler, Michigan State University


    Amber Lancaster, University of Arkansas


    Jacklyn Stupienski, Naugatuck Valley Community College


    Mary Tuski, Michigan State University


    Noah Brown, North Carolina State University


    Ricardo Camargo, University of California


    Katherine Brafford, University of California

  • 2018-2019 Scholarship Recipients

    Isabelle Emanual, Ohio State University

    The 2019 Akehurst Scholarship has been awarded to Isabel Emanuel, a second-year graduate research associate in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University. Her research at the ornamental pathology lab focuses on the molecular interactions that occur between deciduous holly (Ilex spp.) and a newly emerging fruit rot pathogen, Diaporthe ilicicola.


    Soleil Kurowski-LaBelle, University of Rhode Island

    The recipient of the 2019 Bigelow Scholarship is Soleil Kurowski-LaBelle. She is attending the University of Rhode Island where she is the Vice President of the Horticulture club and works in the university greenhouse and gardens to get more hands-on experience with ornamental horticulture.


    Rebecca DeMoss, Ohio State University

    This year’s winner of the Champion Scholarship is Rebecca DeMoss. She is a highly motivated student majoring in horticulture at The Ohio State University and aspires to someday start her own landscape design business. 


    Melinda Knuth, Texas A&M University

    Some of you may have met Melinda Knuth at Cultivate’18 where she served as AmericanHort’s Coordinator wrangling that year’s HortScholars. Melinda got hooked on horticulture through her participation in FFA. She graduated from University of Nebraska with a degree in horticultural entrepreneurship and completed two horticultural internships at the most magical place on earth—Disney World! She’s currently enrolled as a PhD student at Texas A&M as part of Dr. Charlie Hall’s research team.


    Aaron Sledge, Penn State University

    Started his junior year at Penn State University, however, is no stranger to horticulture. He’s already completed internships in arboriculture, interior plantscaping, and conservatory and historic landscape management—in addition to on-campus opportunities working in the greenhouse and as head propagator for the horticulture club. A well-rounded plant production student, Aaron is especially interested in woody plant propagation. He notes that his copy of Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants is dog-eared from all the times he’s referenced it! Aaron was also selected as an AmericanHort Scholar for Cultivate’18, and I can personally attest to his work ethic and his enthusiasm for our industry.


    William Lewis, Virginia Tech

    He has been working for his family nursery since he was 14 years old. Currently, he is an undergraduate at Virginia Tech working towards a bachelor's degree in Environmental Horticulture and, ultimately, plans on taking over the family nursery business. He has worked in every aspect of the nursery - from leading the team at trade shows, to mechanics, to everyday operations. Not only is he a full-time student, but he drives two hours home every weekend to work at the nursery Friday through Sunday. William is steadfastly committed to his family nursery and the horticulture industry.


    Yufei Qian, University of California, Davis

    A graduate student at the University of California—Davis where she is doing everything she can to learn and pursue her passion for plants. Yufei notes that she’s benefitted from a series of internships while at UC-Davis, including stints in UC’s Teaching Nursery working on plant propagation of ornamental plants and two lab internships learning and working on plant genetics and molecular level breeding. All of these experiences, Yufei says, are pointing her to a future career in woody plant breeding.


    Jose Guadalupe Gutierrez, Cal Poly

    Jose Guadalupe Gutierrez, the recipient of the 2019 Susie & Bruce Usrey Education Scholarship, attends California State Polytechnic University, Pomona pursuing his Master's in Landscape Architecture with the admirable goal to improve the quality of life of California residents’ living near a freeway by creating green spaces.


    Christopher Chen, University of California - Davis

    Christopher Chen received the 2019 Usrey Family Scholarship. He is passionate about viticulture and is pursuing his PhD at University of California Davis. After graduating, he is planning to continue to research grape vines with the objective of improving the lives of growers, wine makers, and consumers. 

  • 2017-2018 Scholarship Recipients

    Nathan Nordstedt, Ohio State University


    Brandon Miller, Cornell University


    Mary Tuski, Michigan State University


    Madeline Olberg, University of Wisconsin - Madison


    Leala Machesney, University of Maine


    Kristin Neill, Oregon State University


    Melissa Eggleston, Michigan State University


    Dustin Trychta, West Virginia University,


    Allen Vizcarra, California State University, Fresno


    Daniel Loera, California State University, Fresno

  • 2016-2017 Scholarship Recipients

    Brian Malin, Clark State Community College

    Georgia Hann, Connecticut College

    Marissa Aurelio, UC Riverside

    Brandon Miller, Iowa State University

    Carisa Lolmaugh, Sierra College

    Nicholas Robinson, University of Connecticut

    Melissa Eggleston, Michigan State University

    Justin Schulze, Oregon State University

    Mark Dennis, University of Maryland

  • 2015 Scholarship Recipients

    Joshua Henry

    North Carolina State University, 2015


    Timothy Jang

    University of Illinois, 2015


    Christian Young

    Columbus State Community College, 2015


    Kevin Trostel

    Middle Tennessee State University, 2015


    Nicholas Robinson

    University of Connecticut


    Jasmine E Martinez

    California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 2015


    Stephanie Smolenski

    University of California – Davis, 2015

  • 2014 Scholarship Recipients

    Rachel Lyn Maiorino

    California Polytechnic State University, 2014


    Madeline W. Olberg

    Purdue University, 2014


    Jasmine Elaine Martinez

    California State Polytechnic University, 2014


    James F. Rockwell II

    Virginia Tech, 2014


    Sarah Maria Morales

    University of Delaware Newark, 2014


    Heather Slattery

    University of Connecticut, 2014


    Nathan Nordstedt

    Kansas State University, 2014


    Doug Phillips

    North Carolina State University, 2014


    Nathan Maren

    North Dakota State University, 2014


    Laura Marie Hayes

    University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2014

  • 2013 Scholarship Recipients

    David Roberts

    North Carolina State University, 2013


    Keith Lukowski

    North Carolina State University, 2013


    Kimberly Shearer

    North Carolina State University, 2013


    Chelsea Gusler

    Virginia Tech, 2013


    Donald Keith

    University of Vermont, 2013


    Stephanie Marino

    University of Maryland, 2013


    Josh Henry

    Ohio State University, 2013


    Olivia Meyer

    Kansas State University, 2013


    Brett Johnson

    Oklahoma State University, 2013


    Alejandro Estrada

    University of California – Davis, 2013


    Rachel Maiorino

    California Polytechnic State University, 2013

  • 2012 Scholarship Recipients

    Leah Comerci

    West Virginia University, 2012


    Stephanie Marino

    University of Maryland, 2012


    Renee LeGue

    Conway School of Landscape Design, 2012


    Justin Menke

    University of Kentucky, 2012


    Allison Jones

    Michigan State University, 2012

  • 2011 Scholarship Recipients

    Chelsea Gusler

    Virginia Tech, 2011


    Joseph Rothleutner

    Oregon State University, 2011


    Michele Langone

    University of Vermont, 2011


    Samuel Bookhadt

    Humboldt State University, 2011


    Jason Lattier

    North Carolina State University, 2011

  • 2010 Scholarship Recipients

    Lucy Wang

    University of Maryland, 2010


    Julia Kriz

    George Washington University, 2010


    Amanda Lilly

    City College of New York, 2010


    Daniel Buelow

    Colorado State University, 2010


    Emily Silverman

    North Carolina State University, 2010

  • 2009 Scholarship Recipients

    Tristan Cleveland

    Pennsylvania State University, 2009


    Benjamin Madeiras

    University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009


    Sam Bookhardt

    Humboldt State University, 2009


    Emily Duyst

    California Polytechnic State University, 2009

  • 2008 Scholarship Recipients

    Gerrit Shuffstall

    Morgan State University, 2008


    Kayla Harrison

    University of Rhode Island, 2008


    Ryan Contreras

    North Carolina State University, 2008


    Kaythryn Sanford, 2008


    Amanda Rosa

    California Polytechnic State University, 2008

  • 2007 Scholarship Recipients

    Kelly Jarvis, University of Rhode Island, 2007

    Thomas N. Saunders, Virginia Tech, 2007

    Warner Orozco-Obando, Auburn University – Davis, 2007

    Colin S. McKim, California Polytechnic State University, 2007