American Floral Endowment Announces New 2026 Internship Recipients
The recipients of the 2026 Vic & Margaret Ball and Mosmiller internship programs. | American Floral Endowment
Each year, the American Floral Endowment (AFE) celebrates and spotlights the future floral leaders who are brave enough to take their education out of the classroom and into the field through its internship programs. In 2026, AFE is recognizing eight students being placed through the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program.
Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Recipients
The Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program provides students the opportunity to gain practical floriculture and horticulture experience while training at commercial production greenhouses and nursery operations. Upon successful completion of their paid internship, students participating in a three-month internship receive a $1,500 scholarship.
Elia Vaclav
Three-month internship with Alaska Perfect Peony in Alaska. Scholarship Award: $1,500.
Vaclav attends Texas State University and is majoring in Horticulture. She hopes to expand her greenhouse knowledge and gain experience working with plants in new climates.
“I have a deep desire to travel and explore outside of Texas, and this internship is the perfect fit to help me get out and explore,” says Vaclav.
Paul “PJ” Crocker
Three-month internship with Altman Plants in Colorado. Scholarship Award: $1,500.
Crocker attends California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and majors in Agricultural Business. He hopes to combine business knowledge with hands-on horticulture experience throughout his career.
“I discovered the values that have long guided me, those being community, education, and plants,” says Crocker.
Maya Olin
Three-month internship with Plantpeddler. Scholarship Award: $1,500.
Olin attends Mississippi State University and majors in Horticulture/Floriculture. She hopes to build a future in floriculture production and gain more hands-on industry experience.
“I have a strong desire to ‘keep my hands in the soil’ and work on the more biological and practical aspects,” says Olin.
Mosmiller Internship Recipient
The Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program places students at leading floral retail, wholesale, or supplier businesses for a period of 10-16 weeks, with a $2,000 scholarship upon their completion of the program. Depending on their placement, Mosmiller interns often hone their floral design skills, learn more about the ins and outs of managing a floral business, and improve their customer service skills.
Tamara Otto
Internship TBD, Scholarship Award: $2,000.
Otto attends Texas A&M University and majors in Agribusiness with a minor in Horticulture. Through her experiences at a flower farm, garden nursery, and floral design programs, she has developed a passion for the floral industry and hopes to one day own her own floral shop.
“I am eager to see the floral world from a wedding florist’s or retailer’s perspective, for this would specifically be helpful as I pursue my future career goals of owning my own floral shop,” says Otto.
Internship applications are accepted twice a year, on October 1st and March 1st. Interested students can learn more and apply here.
Any industry organizations looking to employ interns can get in touch with AFE’s Program Manager, Candice Musgrove, at [email protected].
For additional information on each internship program and the full list of recipients, please read the original release on the AFE website.
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