The Oregon Nurseries Foundation supports incoming or continuing college students who are preparing for careers in ornamental horticulture and related fields.
Please join us in congratulating the Oregon Nursery Foundation’s 2016–17 scholarship award winners. Students were evaluated based on academic achievement, nursery industry commitment and financial need. Scholarships are applied for during winter term and awarded by the ONF’s committee each spring. The next cycle of applications will be due by March 31, 2017.
The Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Nurseries Foundation congratulate each of these students on their impressive accomplishments thus far and wish them all the best of luck as they continue towards building the future of a strong Oregon nursery industry.
Dylan Arritola
Dylan will be a freshman at Oregon State University, majoring in agricultural business management this fall. Dylan has a family history in the nursery industry. His mother is a part owner at Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc. and Fessler Farms. Dylan has spent many springs and summers working at both nurseries.
During Dylan’s high school career, he built a reputation as a high-achieving academic and hard-working athlete who was equally dedicated to service in school and in the St. Paul community.
Dylan has been awarded the Willamette Chapter Award and the Nursery Employee Award. His career goal is to open a hazelnut farm and oversee all aspects of production from propagation to harvest.
Samantha Brentano
Samantha begins her senior year at OSU this fall, majoring in crop and soil science. Samantha has spent her years at OSU actively involved in many volunteer organizations, most notably Kappa Delta Sorority, Collegiate Level FFA and OSU’s Spanish Club. Samantha has many seasons of nursery work experience on her Uncle Pete’s nursery, Brentano’s Tree Farm.
Samantha has a strong work ethic and passion for the future of the industry. She has invested in learning Spanish and will be attending a study abroad program in Spain in fall 2016 to enhance her bilingual skills. She has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter Award and The Bill Egan Memorial Award.
Kimberly Curtis
Kimberly was born into and grew up in the family nursery business, Brooks Tree Farm. Kimberly is a hard-working, committed student, pursuing her PCC associate’s degree through their online program so that she can also attend to the business needs, as well as to being a mother to two young boys.
Kimberly has won previous ONF scholarships and this year earned the Sid and Cindy Miles Nursery Award as well as the Royal Boltman Memorial Award. She is currently attending Portland Community College pursuing business administration skills to enhance her family’s business and marketing practices.
Mandie Driskill
Mandie is the recipient of the Emerald Empire Award and the Larry Fitzgerald Memorial Award. She is a senior this fall at OSU, majoring in horticulture with special interest in plant breeding and plant genetics. She plans to begin her career in the Eugene-Springfield area at a local nursery, initially starting out in ornamental propagation but working into plant breeding.
A mother to three young children and one on the way, Mandie credits her husband and children for motivating her success. Her education and career goals are a guiding force in her commitment to them and an example of working hard to achieve your dreams.
Maggie Friesen
Maggie has always loved plants, animals and the natural world. She became motivated to pursue horticulture-related studies after spending a season as an employee at Thistledown Farm in Junction City, Oregon.
During her high school days, Maggie made a name for herself as an outgoing and hard-working student. She enjoyed cheerleading and engaged in many community service projects, from providing heating to those in need to tutoring elementary school students.
Maggie begins her college experience at OSU as a freshman this fall, majoring in agricultural business. She was awarded the Clackamas Chapter Award.
Rylie Gold
Rylie has been involved in the nursery industry her entire life by way of her family’s nursery, Gold Hill Sales. This fall she will leave Oregon and start her college career at Brigham Young University–Idaho. She has been working at Gold Hill Sales and saving half of each paycheck to contribute to her education costs. Rylie plans to return to Oregon and work at the family nursery when on summer breaks from college.
Rylie has been awarded the Mt. Hood Chapter 2 Award based on her commitment to the future of the industry and high school academic success.
Marissa Nechuta
Marissa will be a junior at The University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall. Her major is horticulture with a focus on landscape design and management. Marissa is passionate about encouraging younger generations of students to go into horticulture and related fields.
Marissa had a field study opportunity that brought her to Portland, Oregon, to attend the Mid-American Collegiate Horticultural Society meeting. After graduation, she plans to enter the workforce as a garden and landscape designer.
Marissa has been a recipient of many academic awards. She earned the Retail Chapter 2 Award in part based on her experience working at Schalow’s Nursery Inc. in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Victoria “Lauren” Riback
Lauren is a born-and-raised Oregonian who is now a senior at Texas A&M University, majoring in agricultural science. Lauren has an impressive resume of many extracurricular and volunteer activities, notably her dedication to the FFA and Corps of Cadets.
Lauren is no stranger to adversity and overcame a learning disability during her freshman year to improve her grades and succeed at Texas A&M. In her senior year, she will take on another role as the First Sergeant of the Parsons Mounted Calvary. When she completes her degree, she plans to give back through teaching ag science.
Lauren has been awarded The Nurseries Foundation Award.
Madison Fonda Thorneburg
Madison is currently in her final year at Clackamas Community College’s Horticulture Program. This past spring, as an employee at Portland Nursery, Madison was constantly stretching her customer service and plant knowledge skills.
She began her horticulture career in North Carolina, working at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina. Madison is a devoted lifelong learner and is constantly increasing her plant identification and integrated pest management skills.
Madison’s strong academic record earned the Joseph H. Klupenger Award and the Retail Chapter Award.
Paul Tribbett
A self-described “farm kid,” Paul grew up planting and harvesting on the family farm business. His parents are owners of JB Instant Lawn, a large-scale sod and nursery distribution company located in the heart of the Willamette Valley.
Paul will be beginning his senior year at OSU this fall, majoring in agricultural science. Paul’s vision is to create a strong farm business for future generations and eventually lead the company as farm manager. Paul has spent weekends and summers alongside other nursery staff, and knows the hard work and dedication it will take to take to lead the business into the next period of success.
Paul received The Clackamas Chapter Ed Wood Memorial Award and the Retail Chapter 3 Award, based on his dedication to a thriving future for Oregon’s nursery industry.