Horticultural students are an essential part of the lifeline of the future of ASHS. We are fortunate that some of the brightest and best have chosen horticultural science as their profession. We have the responsibility to facilitate their successful journey of preparation for this unique career. Among the several ways in which we can encourage them is to provide appropriate recognition for their achievements - in the form of selecting the most qualified for the Outstanding Undergraduate Horticultural Students and the Collegiate Scholars.

This issue of our ASHS Newsletter features photographs and names of the ASHS Outstanding Undergraduate Horticulture Students (see pages 6-7). Our ASHS Collegiate Scholars will be in the May issue. I know that, like me, many other ASHS members do not work very closely with our horticultural students. This is why I chose to focus on our student awards programs in this Reflections column.

Basically, ASHS offers two types of programs for students: recognition programs and scholarship programs. Deadlines for all these programs are March 1 each year.

Student Recognition Awards

The Outstanding Undergraduate Horticulture Student Award program (See Awards) was established in 1988 by the ASHS Board of Directors. ASHS recognizes outstanding undergraduate horticulture students enrolled in baccalaureate programs. Eligible students are those enrolled in horticulture (including pomology, olericulture, floriculture, and landscape or ornamental horticulture) or a plant science/crop science department with an emphasis or major in horticulture. Students are selected on the basis of their scholarship achievement, leadership abilities, participation in campus/club activities, and services to their departments. Recognition is limited to one student per institution.

In addition to outstanding academic records and participation in horticulture clubs and other campus activities, this year’s outstanding students have participated in diverse activities ranging from: participating in an internship in Australia, to conducting research with an ornamental plant breeder, to acting as a crew leader in charge of 16 at risk teenagers working on landscaping projects. In the words of one student, her career goals are to incorporate horticultural expertise “in ways to make the world a more beautiful, sustainable, and peaceful place by improving the quality of people’s lives in meaningful ways.”

Started in 2002, the Collegiate Scholars Award honors the academic achievements of junior and senior undergraduates from departments of horticulture, or of plant and crop science, who are majoring in horticulture. In his newsletter column “Teaching Matters,” ASHS Vice President Dennis Decoteau, Education Division, said last year that “Receiving an award not only makes selected students feel positive about themselves and their profession, but also assists in resume building that is needed as our students begin to market themselves in the profession.” This award came about primarily due to the efforts of Curt Rom, past Vice President for Education.

ASHS Scholarship Awards

Scholarships offered are the E. Ted Sims, Jr., Memorial Scholarship (one award of $1000) and the ASHS Scholars Award (two scholarships of $1500 each). Qualifications and application procedures for these awards can be found on our web site [ashs.org].

The E. Ted Sims, Jr., Memorial Scholarship was established in 1991 by Margaret Richter Sims in memory of her husband, a professor of horticulture at Clemson University. The ASHS Scholars Award was established by the ASHS Board of Directors to recognize and support scholastic achievement and to encourage career development in horticultural science at the undergraduate level.

The 2002 E. Ted Sims, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Award went to Denita Hadziabdic, who came to the United States several years ago from Sarajevo, Bosnia. Last summer she was chosen by the Community of Bosnia, an American organization, to return to her country for two or three months to share some of the horticultural knowledge she has gained here in the United States. She has also been an intern at the Ellington Agriculture Center in Nashville, which is run by the State of Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture.

The 2002 ASHS Scholars Award winners were Mark Uchanski, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Vance Whitaker, a student at North Carolina State University. Mark conducted several undergraduate research projects, including horseradish disease elimination and in vitro orchid propagation. Vance became North Carolina’s youngest Master Gardener at age 15, and went on to become a Certified Georgia Plant Professional before beginning college.
ACB, the Association of Collegiate Branches

The Association of Collegiate Branches (ACB) of is a forum comprised of undergraduate horticulture clubs. The ACB encourages undergraduate participation in the ASHS, promotes a greater understanding of regional and national horticulture, and acts as an official body representing undergraduate contributions to horticulture. Regional and national meetings of the ACB allow students to participate in a number of educational and social events.

The ACB was founded in 1961 by a group of concerned undergraduate horticulture students and ASHS members. The purpose of the member clubs is to encourage undergraduate participation in the Society, provide a forum for exchange of club and professional ideas, encourage a greater understanding of regional and national horticulture, and act as an official body for undergraduate horticulture student contribution. Regional and national meetings of the ACB allow students to participate in a number of educational and social events.

The ACB is composed of four regional groups: Southern, Western, Northeastern, and Mid-Atlantic. Each region has its own constitution, officers, and annual meeting. Each year, ACB officers and members meet with ASHS at the Annual Conference. As their parent organization, ASHS facilitates the ACB administratively, provides guidance and some financial support for the ACB’s activities.
The ACB Newsletter contains reports on current activities of clubs around the country. Greenleaf, formally published annually, has been superceded by the ACB Section of the ASHS Web site. This site reports on club activities throughout the year and horticulture students’ personal experiences, including internships.

ACB Competitions

Each year the ACB and ASHS sponsor a paper and poster competition held at the ASHS Annual Conference. Winners receive a plaque-mounted certificate. Topics of entries range from scientific experiments carried out by the student, to student-designed public gardens and landscapes. To be eligible to participate, students should contact a Society member on their faculty to guide them as they plan, carry out, write, and present the project.

The Horticultural Commodity Judging Contest is held at each ASHS Annual Conference. Undergraduate students from member clubs compete by rating the quality of horticultural commodities, identifying a large number of plants, many from out of their region, and by taking a general exam of horticultural knowledge.

In addition to national and regional meetings, the ACB and ASHS also sponsor several monetary and non-monetary awards to undergraduates. These awards include the Outstanding Club Award given by ASHS to two clubs. One goes to the overall most active club in the country, and the second to the most active club based on a per active member basis. For additional information about the ACB, consult our Web site: ashs.org

Please register early for ASHS-2003. Remember, our Centennial celebration will be held in Providence, R.I., 3-6 Oct. 2003. I look forward to seeing you there.

L. George Wilson

Originally published in ASHS Newsletter April 2003.