AFE Awards 2016 Scholarships

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has awarded the 2016 Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship to Kellie Walters of Michigan State University.

The Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship was established in 2010 and honors the late Paul Ecke, Jr. This merit-based scholarship has been funded by industry contributions and the Ecke family to assist in funding the education of floriculture graduate students (MS or Ph.D.) at land-grant institutions.

Kellie Walters is pursuing her Ph.D. at Michigan State University and got involved in the floriculture industry in elementary school, when she sold marigolds and spider plants on her parents’ driveway. Walters will receive a $10,000 scholarship ($5,000 for two consecutive years), provided she continues to meet scholarship requirements.

The proposed project for her doctoral research will focus on the propagation of herbaceous perennial ornamentals. Her future goals include becoming a professor and providing research-based solutions to floriculture problems.

The 2015 Ecke recipient, Daniel Klittich of the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), will receive his second year of funding this year.

He is working towards his Ph.D. in entomology, and his research is focused on increasing plant resistance to pests and disease through the use of silicon-based fertilizers.

AFE has awarded the 2016 Altman Family Scholarship to Joshua Henry of North Carolina State University.

Henry is the first recipient of the merit-based Altman Family Scholarship, which was created in 2015 by Ken and Deena Altman, owners of Altman Plants.

Joshua Henry is pursuing a Master of Science at North Carolina State University and is an active member of several horticultural activities and clubs, including the Horticultural Science Graduate Student Association. Henry will receive $5,900 in funding from this scholarship.

Henry performed a six-month internship at Smith Gardens in 2015 through AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Program.

Henry’s primary area of research is in plant nutrition of annuals and potted plants, specifically with phosphorus. He finds it rewarding to help diagnose different plant issues with growers.

His aspiration is to help growers directly through extension and indirectly through research.