American Floral Endowment Announces Its Scholarship Class of 2025
The Scholarship Class of 2025. | American Floral Endowment
At the heart of the floral industry’s future are students whose passion and drive are being nurtured by the American Floral Endowment (AFE). As part of that support, AFE provides crucial funding through scholarships to help students manage the cost of their education.
This year, thanks to the generosity of AFE’s donors and industry supporters, the organization is proud to award a record $74,000 in scholarships, up from $67,600 in 2024. With 26 awards given to 22 students, the scholarships ease the financial burden of education, but more importantly, reaffirm the upcoming industry talent by believing in their potential.
Please congratulate the following members of AFE’s Scholarship Class of 2025. The organization is eager to see the impact these future industry leaders will have on the world of floriculture.
2025 Scholarship Awards and Recipients
Hauk Boyes
School: North Carolina State University – Horticulture
Scholarship: Richard T. Meister Scholarship – $4,800
Hauk Boyes of Cary, NC, is a graduate student at North Carolina State University. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, Boyes is continuing his studies in horticulture. He plans to graduate in May 2026. His career goals include working with growers to address current and future problems within the industry, utilizing his background in education, production, and research to secure positions in research extension, horticulture production, or public horticulture.
“I am extremely grateful to receive a scholarship from the American Floral Endowment and will continue to work diligently to carry on the next generation of the horticulture industry,” says Boyes. “This scholarship award allows me to further my studies at a renowned land-grant university and learn directly from role models in horticulture extension and outreach.”
About the Richard T. Meister Scholarship:
Dick Meister built a family business in publishing for specialized growers in commercial horticulture. He was a strong supporter of the land-grant college system and, through the years, worked closely with many horticultural and floricultural leaders. This scholarship is dedicated to the outstanding accomplishments of those in university extension and especially to Will Carlson in floriculture. The Meister scholarship is open to graduate students in floriculture intending to pursue their career in the land-grant university system with an interest in research, extension, or teaching.
Grace Deguzman
Grace Deguzman. | American Floral Endowment
School: City College of San Francisco – Retail Floristry
Scholarship: American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship – $3,100
Grace Deguzman of Castro Valley, CA, is a junior at the City College of San Francisco studying retail floristry and floral and special events coordination. She anticipates graduating in May 2027. Her future career goals involve establishing a thriving, eco-friendly floral design business specializing in everyday arrangements, sympathy flowers, weddings, and events.
“This scholarship means I can continue to study floral design and business,” says Deguzman. “My wish is to have a successful floral design business in the near future.”
About the American Florists’ Exchange Scholarships:
The Original Los Angeles Flower Market was established in 1921, and the flower market is now part of the largest wholesale flower district in the U.S. Eligible recipients are juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, majoring in agriculture with an emphasis on a future in floriculture. This scholarship provides tuition assistance to students attending a college/university in California or student residents of California attending a college/university in other areas of the U.S.
Joseph DelConte
Joseph DelConte. | American Floral Endowment
School: Cornell University – Plant Science
Scholarship: Long Island Flower Growers Association (LIFGA) Scholarship – $1,700
Joseph DelConte of Oswego, NY, is a senior at Cornell University in New York. He is majoring in plant sciences with a concentration in plant breeding. He expects to graduate in May 2026. He plans to continue his studies to earn an advanced degree, ultimately pursuing a career in plant breeding and genetics, placing himself at the forefront of the work that results in releasing new varieties to growers.
“It is an honor to be awarded this scholarship, as it is encouraging to have the support of the Long Island Flower Growers Association,” says DelConte. “This award will go a long way in helping me in my studies as I build a career in plant breeding.”
About the Long Island Flower Growers Association (LIFGA) Scholarship:
The LIFGA scholarship was established in 2010. LIFGA members represent growers and retailers promoting research, education, and sales of ornamentals in the local market. The LIFGA scholarship is intended for students in the Long Island/New York area studying ornamental horticulture at a community college or a four-year institution.
Tori Guarino
Tori Guarino. | American Floral Endowment
School: University of Florida – Environmental Horticulture
Scholarship: John Carew Memorial Scholarship – $2,400
Tori Guarino of Naples, FL, is a graduate student at the University of Florida, where she is studying environmental horticulture. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. She plans to graduate from her doctoral program in May of 2029. Afterwards, her plans are to contribute to sustainable, eco-friendly solutions for coastal erosion and habitat loss, with an emphasis on advancing the green industry through innovative, native plant solutions.
“Being funded by the American Floral Endowment provides me with more than just financial support; it gives me confidence and encouragement at a pivotal time in my academic and professional development,” says Guarino. “Being supported by the American Floral Endowment has allowed me to dedicate myself more fully to my graduate studies and research, knowing that I have the backing of a community that values environmental stewardship and education.”
About the John Carew Memorial Scholarship:
John Carew, former head of the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, dedicated his career to encouraging and guiding young horticulturists. He was instrumental in establishing BPI in 1969. The Carew scholarship is open to graduate students in horticulture with an interest in greenhouse crops.
Megan Smolinski
Megan Smolinski. | American Floral Endowment
School: University of Maryland – Extension Education
Scholarship: Harold Bettinger Scholarship – $2,400
Megan Smolinski of Takoma Park, MD, is a graduate student at the University of Maryland, where she is working toward her master’s degree in extension education. She plans to graduate in December 2026. Smolinski earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. She recently became a board-certified Master Arborist. After graduation, Smolinski plans to work in education, where she will share her knowledge and skills with students and professionals.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have received scholarship support from the American Floral Endowment,” says Smolinski. “The cost of getting a degree isn’t about tuition alone; there are books, lab fees, supplies, and other costs which this award will cover for me.”
About the Harold Bettinger Scholarship:
Harold Bettinger was a partner at Bettinger Farms in Swanton, OH. In the mid-’50s, he was one of the first progressive growers to convert his bedding plant production from wooden to plastic flats. Bettinger Farms now grows greenhouse and field vegetables. The Bettinger Scholarship is intended for horticulture students at the sophomore through graduate levels who have a major or minor in business and/or marketing with the intent to apply their education to a horticulture-related career in business.
Additional information on the rest of the Scholarship Class of 2025 can be found on the American Floral Endowment website.
AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year. Descriptions of available scholarships and application instructions can be found at endowment.org/scholarships.
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