Jun 5, 2009

Syngenta Selects Grower of TomorrowSource: Syngenta Professional Products

Syngenta Professional Products has announced North Carolina State University senior Matthew Swaim as the first-place winner in the 2009 Syngenta Grower of Tomorrow internship program. The announcement was made at the 20th annual Turf and Ornamentals Communicators Association (TOCA) conference, May 14, 2009, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

As part of his internship, Swaim attended the TOCA conference and will also attend the OFA Short Course in July in Columbus, Ohio, to meet and interact with industry professionals from the greenhouse industry. Swaim also will spend one-on-one time this year with four Syngenta businesses – Conrad Fafard Inc., Syngenta Flowers, Inc., Syngenta Horticultural Services and Syngenta Professional Products – to obtain firsthand knowledge of growers’ needs, legal issues, genetics and communications efforts in the ornamentals industry. Swaim received a $2,500 scholarship to further his educational goals.

“I was very pleased to have been chosen as this year’s Grower of Tomorrow winner,” said Swaim, who is majoring in horticulture and plant biology, with minors in environmental science and turfgrass science. “I am anxious to learn more about the scientific side of horticulture, and I’m excited for the opportunity to work with one of the leaders in the ornamentals industry.”

Runners-up in the program are Holly Williams from Cornell University, and Tiffany Kohl from the University of Wisconsin, who each received a $1,000 scholarship.

“As a steward of the ornamentals industry, we developed this internship program to help cultivate future growers’ passion for pursuing careers in ornamental horticulture,” said Bert Wagemans, ornamental market lead for Syngenta Professional Products.

For more information, visit www.syngenta.com.