Sidney B. Meadows Fund Awards $24,000 in Scholarships to 12 Students

Posted by Brian Sparks|August 24, 2023

The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Fund, which was created in 1989 by the Southern Nursery Association (SNA), has announced the names of 12 students from 10 southeastern universities chosen to receive academic scholarships this year. Eight of the awards are named scholarships honoring past industry leaders or loved ones. This year’s awards were $2,000 each, totaling $24,000. Awards are being presented to the following excelling scholars:

Ramsey Arram – North Carolina State University, The Art & Millie Lancaster Scholarship
Kristopher S. Criscione – Louisiana State University, The James & Faye Foret Scholarship
Landon Erbrick – Auburn University, The Sally Smith Scholarship
Haley Jacobs – Oklahoma State University
Kayla Morrison – Oklahoma State University
Brooks Parrish – University of Florida, The Richard J. Hackney Scholarship
Jenny Ryals – Mississippi State University, The Lee C. Howell Scholarship
Brandan Shur – North Carolina State University, The Arthur A. “Buck” Jones Scholarship
Charlotte Simmons – Tennessee Technological University, The Dr. Bryson L. James Scholarship
Josh Tebow – University of Arkansas
Laura Whaley – University of Tennessee
Tyler Williamson – University of Georgia, The Robert L. Vanlandingham Scholarship

Scholarship recipients are determined through a competitive application process, administered by a selection committee, based on academics, determination, demonstrated interest in the horticulture industry, and financial need. This year’s recipients were chosen from a very competitive group of applicants. Of the 12 students, seven are graduate students and five are under-graduate.

“Congratulations to this exemplary group of students who have excelled academically and demonstrated determination and a passion for horticulture,” says Danny Summers, Executive Vice President of the fund. “We continue to hear from recipients how important these awards are in reducing their financial stress allowing them the ability to concentrate more on their studies. I am confident each of these students will make an effective and positive contribution to our industry in the future. I look forward to seeing their accomplishments as they complete their studies.”

This was the first year the Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), two leading scholarship granting foundations in the green industry, announced their collaboration in creating a common application form for their respective scholarship programs. This partnership makes it easier for students to apply for multiple scholarship programs at once and mitigate the time-consuming application process. Feedback from this year’s applicants confirmed the process was easy and the ability to apply for more than one scholarship (if eligible) was a real plus.

The financial support offered by the fund has allowed many students the opportunity to work toward their educational goals. With this year’s awards, the fund has awarded a total of $626,000 since the fund was established in 1989. The fund’s current assets are now more than $950,000. Nine named funds have been pledged to date.