Shinoda Foundation Honors Scholar of the Year, Dishes Out Other Scholarships
November 12, 2018 
The Shinoda Foundation has named Kansas State University’s Megan Haresnape as its 2018-19 Shinoda Scholar of the Year, the Foundation’s highest award.
“Megan’s drive and discipline stood out as exceptional among the talented aspiring horticulturists we reviewed,” says Bob Otsuka, President of the Shinoda Foundation. “As the first generation of her family to attend college, she also is a great example of how horticulture’s next generation is working to grow our industry.”
Haresnape is a 21-year-old senior from Lebanon, KS, majoring in Horticulture with a minor in Agribusiness. She is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Greenhouse Production. Her goal is to own and operate a production greenhouse.
Haresnape works in the greenhouses at Kansas State University, is secretary for the Horticulture Club, and serves as a Kansas State University First Scholars Program Mentor. She has received several scholarships, including the Shinoda Scholarship last year, Perennial Plant Association Scholarship, American Floral Endowment Scholarship, and the National Garden Clubs Scholarship.
Shinoda Foundation Also Awards $20,000 in Scholarships
In October, the Shinoda Foundation awarded 12 scholarships to horticulture students from across the country.
“The Shinoda Foundation was created to help secure the future not only of horticulture, but of aspiring young growers, researchers, breeders, retailers, and more,” Otsuka says. “Fortunately, awarding these scholarships continues to be challenging, as we review academics, goals, extracurriculars, experience, and need in a talented pool of applicants.”
2018-19 Shinoda Foundation Scholarship winners include:
• Ruqayah Bhuiyan, Junior, University of Georgia
• Ryan Murphy, Senior, Clemson University
• Gage Willey, Senior, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Jacob Mattlin, Senior, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Emily Currens, Senior, University of Georgia
• Olivia Fiala, Senior, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
• Sarah Houtsma, Senior, University of Georgia
• Joanna Lambert, Senior, Louisiana State University
• Karen Schneck, Senior, Kansas State University
• Connor Evers, Sophomore, Iowa State University
• Jessica Petree, Senior, University of Missouri
• Sean Tarr, Senior, Michigan State University
In addition, the Foundation awarded a $1,000 California Floral Council Scholarship to Cal Poly University Senior Jacob Mattlin. This award is available only to applicants residing in California.
Information about applications for the Shinoda Foundation’s scholarships is sent each January to horticulture and floriculture departments at universities across the nation. Applications are available on the foundation’s website, and accepted from January until March 30 each year.
Subscribe to eNewsletter
