Please join us in congratulating the Oregon Nursery Foundation’s 2017–18 scholarship award winners.
Students were evaluated based on their academic achievement, their commitment to the nursery industry and financial need. Scholarships are applied for during winter term and awarded by the ONF’s committee each spring. Applications for next year’s cycle will open in January, with a due date of March 1, 2018.
Please join us in congratulating the Oregon Nursery Foundation’s 2017–18 scholarship award winners. Students were evaluated based on their academic achievement, their commitment to the nursery industry and financial need. Scholarships are applied for during winter term and awarded by the ONF’s committee each spring. Applications for next year’s cycle will open in January, with a due date of March 1, 2018.
Dylan Arritola was awarded the Bob Fessler Family Foundation Award. Dylan is an incoming sophomore at Oregon State University. Dylan comes from a nursery family; his mother is Jodi Arritola of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas and Fessler Farms. His career goal is to start a hazelnut farm and manage everything from the propagation to the harvest.
Tyler Beasley is pursuing his degree at Oregon State University via their Ecampus. Tyler also manages three greenhouses at his full-time job at Spokane Community College. His future career goals include plant breeding, and he hopes to bring “the next big thing” to ornamental horticulture. Tyler was awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter and Retail Chapter III Awards; these will help him achieve his dream while supporting his family’s financial needs.
Brooke Bennett came to Oregon State University all the way from Chicago, Illinois to work toward her goal of achieving a degree in ecological and sustainable greenhouse production. Brooke was awarded the Retail Chapter II Award and will be transferring this fall from OSU to complete her degree at Iowa State University. Brooke plans to attain a master’s degree and hopes to one day teach, sharing her love of agriculture and sustainable horticulture at the high school level.
Elizabeth Brentano grew up involved in her family’s nursery business, Brentano’s Tree Farm, and developed a love for agriculture by being involved in her local FFA Chapter. Samantha has been awarded the Nursery Employee Award; she will begin her college career at Oregon State University and plans to study veterinary medicine but after college wants to remain involved in the nursery industry.
Tanner Fessler has been awarded the Larry Fitzgerald Memorial and the Bob Fessler Family Foundation Awards. Tanner will be a freshman studying agribusiness this fall at Cal Poly. Tanner’s work experience in the industry started at Fessler Nursery but he also spent time working at Bauman Farms. Upon graduation Tanner plans to return to his family’s business, Fessler Nursery.
Emily Iverson will be a freshman pursuing agribusiness this fall at Eastern Oregon University. She was awarded the Retail Chapter I Award and the Nursery Foundation Award. She grew up working at her family’s business, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. She plans to take her education back to the family farm and help increase their productivity and expand the business after she completes college.
Maxwell Jaeger grew up in the farming and nursery business as part of the family nursery, Woodburn Nursery and Azaleas. Maxwell’s work experience in the industry started at Wilco Farmers and continues at Fessler Nursery and Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc. Maxwell was awarded the Bob Fessler Family Foundation Award. He expects to complete his degree from Oregon State University in spring 2018, majoring in crop and soil science, and begin his career as a farmer following graduation.
Ryan Kraemer will be a senior at Washington State University this fall and expects to finish his degree in greenhouse and nursery management in spring 2018. Ryan was awarded the Bill Egan Memorial Award and the Sid and Cindy Miles Award. Ryan has attained real-world work experience through internships at Carlton Plants (summer 2016) and KCK Farms (summer 2017). Ryan plans to take his propagation skills and family’s tradition to become a nurseryman and one day lead his own company.
Marissa Nechuta will be entering her senior year in fall 2017 at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and expects to complete her degree in horticulture with an emphasis on landscape design and management. Marissa has achieved high honors throughout her college journey including serving as president of the UWRF Horticulture Honors Society, Pi Alpha Xi. Marissa has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter II Award for her academic achievement.
Jimmy Reyes grew up in the nursery business at Palmer Creek Nursery. He will be a freshman this fall at Chemeketa Community College. Jimmy was awarded the Willamette Chapter scholarship. Jimmy has valuable leadership skills acquired by growing up and working at the family nursery and through his local FFA chapter.
Clover Rudicel was awarded the Emerald Empire Award. She will begin studying agribusiness this fall at Oregon State University. Clover’s love of horticulture was grown working at Ruby and Amber’s Organic Farm. She has already learned seed sowing, transplanting, cultivation, harvesting and sales at farmer’s markets in Eugene and Cottage Grove.
Eric van Klaveren will be entering college as a freshman and beginning his degree in business at Oregon State University. His education plan includes a minor in horticulture and he plans to take his work experience from growing up and working in his family’s business, Van’s Nursery Inc., into one day managing his own orchard or landscaping business. Eric has been awarded the Clackamas Chapter Award.
Amelia Porter will begin college this fall at Chemeketa Community College after relocating from Grants Pass, Oregon. Amelia is embarking on her degree in horticulture. Her specific interests include beekeeping, with aspirations of one day running her own orchard. She plans to gain skills with on-the-job experience at nurseries following college before one day owning her own. Amelia has been awarded the Royal Boltman Memorial Award.
Ellen Selander will be a junior this fall at Oregon State University. She is pursuing a degree in horticulture after transferring from Chemeketa Community College. Her eventual aim is to own an organic and sustainable fruit and vegetable farm. She hopes to be influential is producing heirloom seeds and protecting seed diversity in the food population. Ellen works at the OSU Plant Clinic as a lab technician and was awarded the Nursery Memorial Award to help her achieve her dreams.
Deanna Vazquez is a lifelong lover of plants and propagation who is inspired by new plant breeding. She is currently a student in the Horticulture Program at Clackamas Community College. Deanna immigrated to the U.S. from Australia in 2003, and in addition to being a full-time student, she is also a mother to two young children. Deanna was awarded the Clackamas Chapter Ed Wood Memorial Award.
