American Floral Endowment Announces 2026 Paul Ecke Jr. and Altman Family Scholarship Recipients
The recipients of the 2026 Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family scholarships. | American Floral Endowment
The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has announced the 2026 recipients of the Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family scholarships. Created to support the next generation of horticultural scientists and industry leaders, the scholarships recognize graduate students whose work is poised to shape the future of floriculture through innovation, research, and education.
“Through the vision and generosity of Paul Ecke, Jr. and the Altman Family, these scholarships continue to open doors for students who are dedicated to advancing floriculture,” says Debi Chedester, CAE, Executive Director of AFE. “Their commitment to investing in the future lives on through each recipient, and we are proud to support these emerging leaders as they pursue research and innovation that will help shape the next generation of horticulture.”
About the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship
The scholarship honors the late Paul Ecke, Jr., a horticulturist from California credited with moving the industry forward with his innovation and educational program development in the field. The scholarship awards the chosen scholar with $5,000 for two consecutive years ($10,000 total). The recipient must be pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate degree at a U.S. land-grant university.
For more information about the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship, click here.
Emily Eldridge, North Carolina State University
Emily is a graduate student whose research focuses on student enrollment and success in horticulture, conducted in collaboration with Seed Your Future. Specifically, her work examines how students discover the industry’s programs and what keeps them engaged.
“A knowledgeable and diverse workforce is essential to meeting the industry’s evolving needs. By identifying effective strategies for student recruitment and success, this work supports floriculture employers, educators, and industry leaders in building a sustainable workforce,” says Emily. “With experience in both production horticulture and youth development, I bring both the industry perspective and educational passion to this research.”
Her future goals include continuing to work at the intersection of people and plants, ultimately strengthening the industry’s workforce pipeline.
“This field has provided me with opportunities, mentorship, and a strong sense of community, and I am committed to contributing to its continued growth,” she says.
About the Altman Family Scholarship
Created in 2015 by Ken and Deena Altman, the Altman Family Scholarship seeks to support improvement in horticulture education and research by investing in outstanding, young industry professionals. The Altmans believe in the power of giving back and do so through the reach of this scholarship and Altman Plants programs that offer growing expertise to the industry. This scholarship provides an annual scholarship ($5,000) to promising and dedicated graduate students pursuing a career in horticulture.
For more information about Altman Family Scholarships, click here.
Charlie Smith, Michigan State University
Charlie is one of four students who received the 2026 Altman Family Scholarship. He will use the scholarship support to expand his academic and professional reach in floriculture, with the intention to attend more horticulture conferences and events, including those on a global scale.
Charlie’s background includes having worked in multiple commercial settings where he gained valuable insights into plant propagation, crop maintenance, and environmental management. His research at Michigan State University focuses on optimizing lighting and temperature conditions during asexual propagation of petunias. He is also conducting research on how LED lighting influences crop development and pigmentation.
In the future, Charlie’s professional goal is to become a university professor in horticulture, following in his parents’ footsteps as teachers. He plans to balance appointments in research, teaching, and extension.
“I aim to maintain strong connections with local growers, using research-based practices to address real-world production challenges,” he says. “I seek a career that allows me to advance floriculture knowledge, train the next generation of horticulturists, and support sustainable and productive greenhouse practices.”
Altman Family Recognitions
In addition to this year’s Altman Family Scholarship winners, AFE has announced that four students have received special recognition through the program’s application process. Those students are:
- Hazel Schrader of St. Paul, MN; a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota
- Morgan O’Neill of Auburn, AL; a master’s degree student at Auburn University
- Navdeep Kaur of College Station, TX; a doctoral student at Texas A&M University
- Tanner Hamerling of Athens, GA; a master’s degree student at the University of Georgia
For additional information on each scholarship program and the full list of recipients, please read the original release on the AFE website.
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