{"id":3040,"date":"2023-05-15T17:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T17:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afe.epicenter1.com\/news\/a-look-at-the-next-generation-of-floricultural-scientists-educators-and-leaders"},"modified":"2025-03-20T20:32:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T20:32:05","slug":"a-look-at-the-next-generation-of-floricultural-scientists-educators-and-leaders","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/news\/a-look-at-the-next-generation-of-floricultural-scientists-educators-and-leaders","title":{"rendered":"A Look at the Next Generation of Floricultural Scientists, Educators, and Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are so pleased to announce this year\u2019s <\/span><b>Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family Scholars! Congratulations to these incredible young professionals!<\/b><b><br><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These six individuals have a plethora of accomplishments in the industry and have their sights set on even further growth. AFE strives to uplift young professionals and support them as they pursue futures in our industry.&nbsp; Our Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family scholarships specifically help fund the education of full-time graduate students pursuing a career in horticulture or floriculture \u2013 <\/span><b>the next generation of floricultural scientists, educators, and leaders<\/b><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These scholars represent the best of the best in their fields and we are happy to highlight each of their unique experiences, passions, and accomplishments that led them to where they are today.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/ecke.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13701\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #008000; font-size: 14pt;\">About the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholar awards $5,000 a year for two years ($10,000 total) to a dedicated MS\/Ph.D. student attending a U.S. land-grant university. The scholarship is in honor of the late Paul Ecke, Jr., who contributed vital knowledge to the industry through innovative research and education programs. The recipient is recognized as a passionate graduate student dedicated to research and education in the floriculture and horticulture industry. For more information about this scholarship,<\/span> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/floriculture-msphd-scholarship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">click here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<br><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">_<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #008000;\">Jack Bobo \u2013 North Carolina State University<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Photo-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16481\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jack started his college education at Texas A&amp;M with his sights set on veterinarian school \u2013 until he took his first horticulture class to satisfy a general science credit. After that class, everything changed. It was here where Jack says the beginning of his career really began. He went on to receive his Bachelor\u2019s degree in Horticulture Science at Texas A&amp;M before moving onto the University of Georgia, where he completed his Master\u2019s degree in the same field. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flash forward to today, Jack is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University, conducting substrate research with Dr. Brian Jackson in his Horticultural Laboratory.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u201cIf I may be so bold to say, I truly believe that at the cornerstone of plant flourishing lies horticultural substrates,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWe deal in the optimization of plant material by the manipulation of that which it is grown in. In just the first six months with my lab, I have witnessed how flowers grown on the same bench in a greenhouse with optimal conditions can and will look completely different in health, coloring, and overall size due to alterations in growing media.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the near future, Jack is excited to attend a number of industry events and continue expanding his network. He recently joined AFE\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/ypc\/\">Young Professionals Council (YPC)<\/a> and is looking forward to attending more upcoming YPC events.&nbsp; \u201c<\/span><b>No matter where my career takes me, I hope that my knowledge within the horticultural sector and my passion for people can be implemented in concert to progress this great industry that has swept me into its tides.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u201cReceiving this scholarship is a complete honor \u2013 I hope that this scholarship will help me make more connections in the industry and open doors for me that might have previously been unavailable to me,\u201d he said. \u201cI am completely excited, honored, and feel very privileged to be a Paul Ecke Scholar.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #008000; font-size: 12pt;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><br>About the Altman Family Scholarship<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/altman.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13705\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><\/b><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Created in 2015 by Ken and Deena Altman, the Altman Family Scholarship seeks to support improvement in horticulture education and research by investing in outstanding, young industry professionals. The Altmans believe in the power of giving back and do so through the reach of this scholarship and Altman Plants programs that offer growing expertise to the industry. This scholarship provides an annual scholarship ($5,000) to promising and dedicated graduate students pursuing a career in horticulture. For more information, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/floriculture-msphd-scholarship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">click here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Isabella Borrero \u2013 University of New Hampshire<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Borrero_Isabella3-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16482\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isabella\u2019s love for floriculture started at a young age, spending her summers in her grandfather\u2019s garden. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe garden was this central hub for our family, and parts of it showed up in all aspects of our lives,\u201d Isabella explained. \u201cOur celebrations would&nbsp; be held there \u2013 everything from birthdays, anniversaries, even my college graduation party. The fruits would be in our birthday cakes, the vegetables in family dinners, and the flowers would be gifts.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Isabella found her niche after taking a plant pathology course as an elective in her first year at Ohio State University. Her professor, Dr. Thomas Mitchell, recalls her sitting in the front row and being incredibly engaged with the course material from the beginning \u2013 eventually, Isabella realized this was what she wanted to pursue for her career. She went on to earn her Bachelor\u2019s degree in Plant Pathology and now is in the Agricultural Sciences Master\u2019s progam at the University of New Hampshire.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isabella\u2019s research is looking into how the addition of wood-fiber ammendments to substrates causes both physical and chemical changes to create a disease-suppressive environment for floricultural species. The goal of the project is twofold: first, to characterize wood fiber substrates\u2019 ability to suppress <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pythium<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> root rot in floricultural species. Secondly, it aims to increase the scientific communities understanding of the role the microbiome plays in the disease-suppressive nature of wood-fiber based substates.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Isabella says that this award will help her in her future career goals tremendously. She aspires to one day work in a research-conducting botanical garden or greenhouse, and would love the chance to conduct research overseas someday.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>\u201cThe value of experiencing different cultures and ideas from people around the world to me, is priceless,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d she said. \u201c<\/span><b>I believe that a wide range of experiences in different plant-pathogens systems around the world is needed for me to obtain the level of literacy I aspire to in the field of plant pathology, and that research is trending more and more towards international collaboration.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\">Josselyn Calidonio \u2013 Clemson University<\/span> <\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/photo-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16483\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Josselyn grew up in Ayutica, Santa Ana, a small community in El Salvador where agriculture is the main economic activity. Her father is a farmer, which helped to forge her love for agriculture and plants from a young age.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her first academic experience in the industry started at EARTH University in Costa Rica, studying Agricultural Sciences \u201c<\/span><b>It was at EARTH, where my wonderful journey began, and where I discovered and confirmed that flowers were and are what I love and what I want to continue working with and exploring,\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">From there, Josselyn began to gain hands-on experience in the industry, completing a year-long internship at Metrolina Greenhouses as an Assistant Grower and a 9-month job position at Costa Farms in the Dominican Republic as a Junior Grower.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">All of Josselyn\u2019s experiences ultimately led her to Clemson University, where she is currently pursuing a Master\u2019s degree in Plant and Environmental Sciences. She works under Dr. Jim Faust, researching new alternatives for Botrytis management in floriculture crops. Josselyn has been involved with AFE throughout her research project, sharing her work in our quarterly Thrips and Botrytis Newsletter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Josselyn\u2019s dream is to continue in the floriculture industry, applying her knowledge and bringing revolutionary ideas, and through research, help solve industry problems. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWords can\u2019t express how grateful I am to the flower industry and how much it has made me grow personally and professionally,\u201d she said. \u201c<\/span><b>My goal is to be a role model and example of resilience for other people who want to continue this path. I would like them to see that no matter where you are from, your socioeconomic status, or your gender, you can accomplish your dreams.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #008000;\"><b>Henry Gonzalez \u2013 Michigan State University<\/b><\/span><b><br><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Photo-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16484\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I were to describe my life thus far, I would consider it to be centered around a constant desire for personal growth and professional development.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Henry is a first-generation student from Nahuizalco, El Salvador. He received his Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Environment and Development from Zamorano University in Honduras before moving to the US to pursue a Master\u2019s Degree in Mechanized System Management with Water Planning and Management Specialization at the University of Nebraska \u2013 Lincoln in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. Last Fall, Henry was admitted to the Horticulture Ph.D. program at Michigan State University.&nbsp; Henry is also a recently-joined member of our <a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/ypc\/\">YPC<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">His research focuses on the development of low-cost technologies for pollution control and prevention, specifically for agricultural wastewater treatment. He is working on two projects, one focusing on the use of engineered substrates to improve nutrient and water retention in containerized nursery production, and the second focusing on the use of woodchip bioreactors for the remediation of agrochemicals from irrigation return flow in nursery and greenhouse operations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In the short-term, Henry wants to provide guidance to local growers about water conservation practices and share solutions to nutrient management issues. In the long-term, Henry wants to be a Professor who can contribute to the agricultural and water science research in the US and Central America through collaboration with other professionals.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith the valuable advising\/mentoring I am receiving from my graduate committee, I believe this award will help me build a sturdy foundation for my career, expand my leadership skills, and stand out in academic excellence,\u201d Henry said. <\/span><b>\u201dI am confident I am already paving the way for other children from my family and community to access high-quality education and have the courage to take on the world.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #008000;\"><b>Savannah Mead \u2013 West Virginia University<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Screen-Shot-2023-05-15-at-11.33.57-AM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16487\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b><\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>\u201cI think my favorite thing about being in this field is how passionate everyone is about their research, myself included. It\u2019s an industry of love and no one ever stops questioning or wanting to know and learn more, and I am no exception.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Savannah attended West Virginia University for her bachelor\u2019s Degree in Horticulture, where she also minored in Cello Performance. Now, she is finishing up the first year of her Master\u2019s in Horticulture at West Virginia University.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Savannah has her mind set on ensuring a bright and strong future of the floriculture industry \u2013 her focus particularly is in sustainable floriculture, researching how to reduce the environmental impact of floriculture production. Her research looks into how AMD-coated sand as a media amendment influences plant growth, health, and flowering of petunias and chrysanthemums both in a production environment and in a post-production or \u201chomeowner-emulated\u201d environment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In the future, she hopes to find a research position at a lab that works with floricuture crops, whether annual or perennial, and will continue exploring and contributing to improving floriculture sustainability. She is considering pursuing her Ph.D. as well so that she can continue to research and teach students about floriculture, it\u2019s importance, it\u2019s multifaceted intrigue, and share her love for it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u201cThis award allows me to experience milestones in research that I never have before,\u201d Savannah said. \u201cI could not be more grateful to AFE for seeing the potential in me and awarding the Altman Family scholarship to me so I can truly enrich my graduate research experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #008000;\"><b>Patrick Veazie \u2013 North Carolina State University<\/b><\/span><b><br><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/PV-Headshot-2022.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16488\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Patrick\u2019s inspiration and motivation for working in the floral industry lies in always finding new ways to help growers and new ways to continue advancing the industry.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u201cThe floriculture industry is always changing, which can often lead to growers experiencing new problems and a need for new resources for growers,\u201d Patrick said. \u201cHelping develop these resources and solve these problems has driven me to write extension articles and conduct research to share with growers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Patrick received his Bachelor\u2019s in Horticulture at North Carolina State University and is now pursuing his Master\u2019s in Floriculture Production, conducting research under Dr. Brian Whipker. Patrick is also a member of our <a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/ypc\/\">Young Professional Council,<\/a> participating in meet-ups at industry events and attending webinars.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Patrick\u2019s current research focuses on finding new, environmentally-friendly alternative aggregates to be utilized in potted substrates for floriculture production. Specifically, he is examining different biochar aggregate sizes as well as different biochar incorporation rates to determine what is optimal for greenhouse production.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">\u201cMy research will directly impact growers in the floriculture industry by helping growers find suitable alternative aggregates to perlite as well as determining cost-effective alternatives that will produce similar, if not higher-yielding plants, compared to current commercially available substrates,\u201d Patrick said.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Patrick plans to continue his studies by pursuing a Ph.D in Florculture and\/or Greenhouse Production, and then either enter academia or the horticulture industry to continue conducting research to solve problems in the industry and provide solutions to growers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>\u201cThis award from AFE will allow me to travel to more growers and attend multiple meetings to continue to learn about floriculture research and the current problems that growers are facing,\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Patrick said. <\/span><b>\u201cUsing this award, I plan to expand my extension efforts to focus on more crops by visiting new growers.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To learn more about our Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family Scholarships and to apply,<\/span> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/floriculture-msphd-scholarship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">click here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Applications are due by February 1st each year!&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","news-categories":[40,31,29,51,44,38],"class_list":["post-3040","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-categories-faculty-researcher","news-categories-latest-news","news-categories-news","news-categories-research","news-categories-student","news-categories-young-professionals-council"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Look at the Next Generation of Floricultural Scientists, Educators, and Leaders - American Floral Endowment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/news\/a-look-at-the-next-generation-of-floricultural-scientists-educators-and-leaders\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Look at the Next Generation of Floricultural Scientists, Educators, and Leaders - American Floral Endowment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We are so pleased to announce this year\u2019s Paul Ecke, Jr. and Altman Family Scholars! Congratulations to these incredible young professionals!These six individuals have a plethora of accomplishments in the industry and have their sights set on even further growth. 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