The Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Nurseries Foundation congratulate each of these students on their impressive accomplishments thus far and wish them the best of luck as they continue towards building the future of a strong nursery industry.
Please join us in congratulating the 2020-21 ONF Scholarship Award Winners. Students were evaluated based on academic achievement, nursery industry commitment, financial need and OAN affiliation.
How to apply
The Oregon Nurseries Foundation (ONF) supports incoming and continuing college students who are preparing for careers in horticulture or related fields. Scholarships are applied for during winter term and awarded by the ONF’s committee each spring. The next cycle of applications will open in January. Applications will be due by April 1, 2021.
Alexa Patti is currently a horticulture major at Clackamas Community College (CCC). Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, Alexa took to the opportunities in gardening and horticulture. She plans to use her education and success in a career in greenhouse production. She is currently on the President’s List and a member of both the Horticulture Club at CCC and the OAN. The committee has awarded Alexa the Clackamas Chapter Award.
Lane Marsh has been awarded the Emerald Empire Chapter Award to pursue his studies in crop and soil sciences at Oregon State University (OSU). Lane has grown up around the nursery industry, both through his father who works for Iseli Nursery and his own work at 4B Farms in Mt. Angel, Oregon. Lane is an exemplary student filled with determination and great aspirations for a career that directly relates to horticulture.
Jessica Gonzalez was a former ONF scholarship recipient during her undergrad time at OSU. After various positions in the nursery industry, she is now working towards her master’s degree at the University of Oregon in landscape architecture. Jessica feels her horticulture background gives her the foundation to design and enhance landscape architecture elements. For her graduate studies, she has been awarded the Nurseries Memorial Award.
Henry Trujillo will be attending the University of Idaho to pursue a degree in horticulture and urban agriculture. With his heavy involvement in FFA and plant-related competitions, Henry has developed a goal to work as a botanist, urban horticulturist, or entomologist. He holds multiple awards through these competitions, both at district and state levels. Henry has been awarded the Retail Chapter Award II.
Camille Shumann is a creative and hardworking student at Portland Community College (PCC). She is currently working towards a degree in landscape design and has been awarded the Retail Chapter Award III. Camille also holds a bachelor of arts degree in studio art from Lewis & Clark College and previously owned her own retail space to sell her artwork and printed goods. She continues to create art for commercial clients to support her passion for sustainable landscape designs.
Claire Duncan is a graduate from Liberty High School in Hillsboro and will be entering Purdue University in fall 2020. Her plan is to study horticulture and landscape architecture, as well as turf management. She would love to return to Oregon after completing her degree to work for a seed company and eventually own her own nursery. Claire has been awarded the Sid and Cindy Miles Nursery Award.
Savannah Mead has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter I Award. She is in her junior year at West Virginia University, pursuing a degree in horticulture. She hopes to start a career in ornamental plan propagation in a greenhouse or nursery setting. Her professional interests also branch into horticulture consulting for a landscape architecture firm.
Brian Curley will be a sophomore at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts and is working toward a degree in sustainable horticulture. Brian hopes to return to his hometown high school to teach horticulture, believing that vocational and agricultural education has a lot to offer the next generation of green industry professionals. Brian is active in his local FFA Chapter and plans to remain heavily involved to give back to an organization that has given him so much. He has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter II Award.
Nicole Wild is a senior at Pennsylvania State University, where she is pursuing a degree in plant sciences/horticulture. Nicole hopes to use her degree towards a career in greenhouse production, eventually producing organic foods or medicines in her own sustainable and environmentally-friendly facility. Nicole has been awarded the Nurseries Foundation
I Award.
Parker Dearing is pursuing a degree in plant breeding and biotechnology in horticulture at North Carolina State University. Parker’s ultimate goal is to open his own ornamental plant nursery and employ special needs teens and adults. He is heavily involved in FFA activities and other clubs throughout his high school career and has earned many achievements. Parker has been awarded the Retail Chapter I Award.
Xavier Tacker will be a freshman at OSU and has been awarded the Bob Fessler Woodburn Nursery I Award. Xavier exemplifies the word “dedication” through his involvement with an internship at Horning Tree Seed Orchard Bureau of Land Management mentorship program for at-risk middle school students, athletic accomplishments, and community services. In addition to that list of accolades, he received the Love of Learning and Community Service Awards from Tigard High School.
Ashley Kelley is the recipient of the Royal Boltman Memorial Award. She will be a freshman at Oregon State University Cascades campus, working toward a degree in botany and horticulture. Her goal is to turn her passion and love for plants and science into a career, either working for the Forest Service or OSU Botany Lab.
Kylie Holveck has been accepted to the University of Idaho and will pursue a degree in agriculture education once she completes an associate degree from PCC. After graduation, Kylie plans to return to Oregon to teach horticulture and introduce students to greenhouse and supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects related to plants. Kylie was awarded the Bob Fessler Woodburn Nursery II Award.
Elizabeth Brentano will be a senior at OSU this coming year with plans to graduate with a degree in horticulture. Elizabeth has grown up in the nursery industry, as her family owns Brentano’s Tree Farm LLC. She looks forward to her career in nursery production, whether it is with the family or branching out to new horizons. Elizabeth has been awarded the Willamette Chapter Award.
Elaina Eberz is a transfer student from Chemeketa Community College, entering her junior year at OSU. Elaina is working towards a degree in horticulture and sustainable production. She has a dream to establish a facility dedicated to the production of vegetables and flowers that would provide for a community as well as act as a lab for new discoveries in resource efficiency. Elaina has been awarded the
Bill Egan Memorial Award to help continue her education.
Eric van Klaveren will be entering his senior year at OSU and is pursuing a degree in electrical engineering with a minor in horticulture. Eric has been involved in the family business, Van’s Nursery Inc., from a young age and plans to continue
his future in horticulture. He has been awarded the Clackamas Chapter Ed Wood Memorial Award.
Emily Iverson is entering her senior year at OSU and finalizing her degree in agricultural food and business management. Emily has been part of the family business, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, for many years and has watched it struggle and succeed. Emily is eager to bring her learned skills to the family operation and help it grow. She has been awarded the Nursery Employee Award.
Helene Dondero has been awarded the Larry Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship for her continued pursuit of higher education from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Upon graduating with her bachelor degree in agri-science, Helene has opted to return to Cal Poly to obtain her master degree in agricultural education and teaching credentials.
Amy Bonano is planning to attend Eastern Oregon University in hopes of using her horticulture education to start a community supplemental agriculture (CSA) program. She plans to study sil science and botany. Amy is legally blind and requires additional technology to complete her education. Amy’s dedication to learning and determination is a testament to her strive to complete her degree. She has been awarded the Nursery Foundation II Award.
Hannah Arritola will be attending OSU for a degree in business that she will apply to her work in the family business, Woodburn Nursery & Azaeleas Inc. Hannah comes from a long line of farmers, nurseryman, and businessmen — all of which support and teach her along the way. She has been awarded the Joseph H. Klupenger Award.
The Oregon Nurseries Foundation committee is comprised of OAN members that serve a five-year term, with their fifth year as chair. Each year, we look to add a new OAN member to the committee. If you are interested in being on this committee, please contact Stephanie Weihrauch at the OAN office,
503-582-2001 or [email protected].
