The Oregon Nurseries Foundation announces its 2021 scholarship recipients
The Oregon Nurseries Foundation (ONF) supports incoming or continuing college students who are preparing for careers in horticulture or related fields. Please join us in congratulating the ONF’s 2021-2022 Scholarship Award Winners. Students were evaluated based on academic achievement, nursery industry commitment, financial need and OAN affiliation. 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 and are due by April 1, 2022.
Grace Adams plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall in their prestigious McKnight Leadership Program. Grace has a dream to start a business that forges new partnerships between schools and agricultural businesses, so younger generations will connect with the green industry. She has been awarded the Nurseries Foundation Award.
Hannah Arritola will continue her business studies as a senior at Oregon State University, and eventually apply her knowledge to the family business, Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc. She has been awarded the Joseph H. Klupenger Award for the second year in a row.
Kiara Benavides has been awarded the Larry Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship for her continued pursuit of higher education from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo. Kiara, a junior, is already planning to apply for the Cal Poly Master of Agriculture Education Program and pursue her dream to become an ag teacher.
Jasleen Bhullar is a student at Clackamas Community College in the Horticulture Program. Jasleen has a passion for the outdoors and will study the art, science, and history of horticulture. She has been awarded the Clackamas Chapter Award.
Katelyn Crockett is a sophomore at Brigham Young University—Idaho, and is studying horticulture. Katelyn is excited to turn her love for plants and flowers into a career. She has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter I Award.
Marcella Cross is a hardworking student entering her senior year at Cornell University. Between high school and college, she has traveled the world as an intern at various institutions. Marcella is well on her way to her goal of obtaining her Ph.D. She has been awarded the Sid and Cindy Miles Nursery Award.
Jessica Fancon has been awarded the Nursery Employee Award. She is currently working at Portland Nursery, where she puts her design skills to great use. She is enrolled in the Landscape Technology: Design Program at Portland Community College, and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Oregon State University. Jessica is also an Oregon State Master Gardener.
Nicollette Fonvergne has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter II Award and the Clackamas Chapter Ed Wood Memorial Award. Nicollette has returned to her family farm in Boring, Oregon, and is working on a degree in horticulture and a certificate in organic farming. She is currently enrolled in Clackamas Community College. Her goal is to grow food and medicinal herbs for the local community via her own small farm business.
Lauren Hatch is a sophomore at Clackamas Community College and is pursuing a degree in horticulture. Lauren switched careers in the aftermath of the pandemic and is currently working as an irrigator at Smith Gardens. She is grateful to be combining practical work experience along with her education. She hopes to have a career in a commercial greenhouse setting following graduation. Lauren has been awarded the Bill Egan Memorial Award.
Riley Hickman will be a graduate student at the University of Kent—United Kingdom, studying ethnobotany. Riley has a degree in chemistry from Duke University and is the owner of Hickman and Hortus Landscape Design in Durham, North Carolina. He has been awarded the Nurseries Memorial Award.
Kylie Holveck is currently a junior at the University of Idaho, and after graduation she plans to return to Oregon to become a teacher. She wants to introduce students to horticulture and greenhouse production through supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects. Kylie was awarded the Bob Fessler/Woodburn Nursery II Award for the second year in a row.
Sophia Linden is currently enrolled in the Landscape Technology: Design Program at Portland Community College. Sophia’s interests include studying the impact of climate change on native plants in the Pacific Northwest, creating urban habitats, and preserving seeds. She has been awarded the Royal Boltman Memorial Award.
Sophie Nelson has been awarded the Bob Fessler/Woodburn Nursery I Award. She will be a sophomore at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in horticulture. Sophie plans to return to the Willamette Valley and her third-generation family-owned ornamental tree farm, Bountiful Farms, after completing her degree.
Jenyoseph Quixote is continuing her studies at Chemeketa Community College where she is earning a two-year degree in horticulture. Her goal is to transfer to Oregon State University to earn a bachelor’s degree. She hopes to become a Master Gardener, as her children are Junior Master Gardeners. Jenyoseph has been awarded the newly-created Arthur Spada Memorial Scholarship Award.
William Stencel has been awarded the Retail Chapter II Award. He is a junior at Central Lakes College in Minnesota, and is working towards a degree in horticulture and greenhouse management. Will was active with his local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and placed 1st in the 2019 Minnesota FFA State Competition his senior year. He also has constructed his own greenhouse and plans to sell his nursery plants to help with tuition.
Stephen Stresow will be a junior at Cornell University where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in plant science and agricultural sciences. He is most passionate about vegetable production and incorporating food nourishment into his work. Stephen is planning to earn a Ph.D. following his undergraduate studies. He has been awarded the Retail Chapter III Award.
Brady Traeger will be an incoming freshman at Oregon State University this fall, working towards a bachelor’s degree in agriculture engineering and a minor in horticulture. He ultimately plans to spearhead the design and construction of new machinery and technology that will enhance the efficiency of nursery work. Brady has been involved in his family’s businesses, Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc. and Fessler Farms, from a young age. Brady was awarded the Retail Chapter I Award.
Eric van Klaveren is a senior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in electrical engineering and a minor in horticulture. Eric has been involved in his family’s business, Van’s Nursery, for most of his life and will pursue a career in horticulture after graduation. He has been awarded the Willamette Chapter Award.
Tatiana (Tashi) Weinstein is currently studying organic farming, arboriculture, and landscaping at Clackamas Community College. She has a particular passion for studying plants that are native to the Pacific Northwest. Tashi has been awarded the Emerald Empire Chapter Award.
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.
The ONF 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 sweihrauch@oan.org.
