![\"Internship](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Internship-AwardsPlacements-Banner-1-1080x675.png\")
The future looks bright! Let\u2019s kickstart 2022 with some excitement, positive vibes, and industry successes \u2013 join us in congratulating ten dedicated students who rocked their internships in 2021 through AFE\u2019s\u00a0internship programs. With valuable industry experience under their belt, they\u2019ve not only gained crucial skills but are eager to learn more and make significant impacts in the future.<\/span><\/p> Internships are win-win for floral industry organizations and students \u2013 while students can apply, practice, and expand their knowledge, industry organizations acquire top talent and bring new, forward-thinking to their operations. Opportunities such as these are integral to developing young professionals\u2019 skills and the future of our industry. AFE is thrilled to facilitate these experiences through our internship programs, and we\u2019d like to recognize the 2021 superstars who remained dedicated to their internships through COVID-19 \u2013 they paint a bright picture for the next generation! Applications for our 2022 Internships are due March 1.<\/strong><\/span><\/p> The\u00a0<\/span>Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program<\/a> is one of three of AFE\u2019s Internship programs, and it provides students with the opportunity to gain practical floriculture\/horticulture experience while training at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Students intern for three, four, or six-month periods. Upon successful completion of their paid internship, they will receive a scholarship of\u00a0$1,500<\/strong>\u00a0for three months,\u00a0$4,000<\/strong>\u00a0for four months, or\u00a0$6,000<\/strong> for six months.<\/span><\/p> 2021 Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Recipients<\/strong><\/span><\/p> In his last year at Kansas State University, Cole had the privilege of spending four months interning for Green Circle Growers in Oberlin, OH. To complement his studies in Horticulture Production, this internship provided Cole with an excellent opportunity for practice and real, hands-on tasks. \u201cThis internship was a terrific way for me to learn how to apply my education from Kansas State University and get a good feeling for what it is like to work for a large-scale production operation. The interactions at Green Circle Growers have had a direct and significant impact on my career path,\u201d he noted. Cole\u2019s scholarship award was $4,000.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> From a young age, William Billmeyer took an interest in plant propagation and breeding. This passion soon translated into his studies, and he now attends Kirkwood Community College, where he will graduate with a degree in Landscape Horticulture Studies. To further pursue this career, William spent six months interning for Tagawa Greenhouses in Brighton, CO learning the ins and outs of a professional horticulture operation. William was hesitant to move halfway across the country for an internship, but he says, \u201cI was surprised by how much knowledge I gained from the location alone. I will be talking to first-year students about my experiences at Tagawa and with AFE and encouraging more students to apply for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship. The distance was well worth it!\u201d<\/span><\/p> After a three-month internship with Neal Mast Greenhouses in Grand Rapids, MI, Samuel Caplan learned some important lessons through his position. Sam claims, \u201cI think the most important skill I learned at my internship was time management. This internship was extremely useful in helping me make decisions regarding my career path.\u201d With that in mind, Sam has graduated with a degree in floriculture at Colorado State University.<\/span><\/p> With her studies focused on Horticulture at Kansas State University, this internship served Christina and her future well. She said of the experience,\u201d I have learned enough to write a book. I feel it is difficult even to express all that I have learned. I barely scratched the surface of the immense amount of knowledge I gained. I am very grateful for the opportunity to gain experience and skills in my field of study, horticulture. I now feel incredibly confident I will be more than capable of achieving my future career goals as a head grower. I wouldn\u2019t have been able to do this with the opportunity of a lifetime \u2013 the Vic and Margaret Ball Internship!\u201d<\/span><\/p> A beautiful, functional, and sustainable landscape is part of Ava\u2019s career dream \u2013 she took a big step toward it this past year with her six-month internship at Skagit Horticulture in Mt. Vernon, WA. Ava is a recent graduate of West Virginia University, and this internship has allowed her to further her education and appreciation for the field. \u201cThe Vic and Margaret Ball Internship Program provided me valuable insight and hands-on experience. I am very grateful that I was able to take advantage of this opportunity and learn more about floriculture and myself in the process.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Meghan one day hopes she can work in a prestigious greenhouse. Until then, she has taken excellent steps to get there by studying Horticulture at West Virginia University and interning for Altman Plants in Payton, CO. \u201cThis internship experience was unlike anything I could have imagined,\u201d she noted, \u201cthe impact this internship has had on my education is profound. I learned an extraordinary amount of information and performed countless new tasks every week.\u201d<\/span><\/p> After a six-month internship with Heartland Growers in Westfield, IN, Holly continues to study Horticulture and Urban Agriculture at the University of Idaho. As a student she is motivated to become a reliable expert in Horticulture and looks forward to gaining and utilizing the skills that are needed to make the world a more beautiful place.<\/span><\/p> Madison Frost spent six months interning with Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, NC. She studies Horticulture at Brigham Young University \u2013 Idaho, and knows these skills will come in handy as she plans to run her own greenhouse or nursery eventually. \u201cI learned so much from this internship experience and felt like I really benefited from the opportunity to apply what I learned in school to real-world situations and problems. I left this internship feeling so accomplished and confident in my knowledge and abilities, and I am excited for what the future brings,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p> Click here<\/a> to read student reports and watch their videos. <\/span><\/p> In addition to placing students with internship opportunities, the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship program encourages university faculty members to visit their students during their internship and will reimburse travel expenses up to $1,000. \u201cFaculty members don\u2019t often get the time and opportunity to visit with the industry, and if we expect them to teach the next generation of industry leaders, they too must visit with growers to learn of challenges to better prepare their students,\u201d <\/em>says Debi Chedester, AFE Executive Director.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> 2021 Mosmiller Internship Recipients<\/strong><\/span><\/p> The<\/span> Programa de Pasant\u00edas Mosmiller<\/a> began in 1975 to provide quality professional training for selected, motivated floriculture and environmental horticulture students. Interns train at leading retail, wholesale, or allied trade operations\u00a0for 10-16 weeks, getting valuable on-the-job work experience. Upon the successful completion of their paid internship, interns will receive a scholarship in the amount of $2,000<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p> During her three-month internship with Tiger Garden in Columbia, MO, Grace Anderson re-affirmed her passion for the event world. As she studies Plant Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia, she\u2019s hoping to eventually establish a career in event floral. \u201cThis internship made me want to dive into the event world, even more, especially weddings. Because of this internship, obtaining a position like this will be much easier now that I have more experience with all aspects of day-to-day operations of shops as well as what goes into planning and designing weddings and events of all sizes.\u201d<\/span><\/p> Hanna finds flowers to be the most amazing structures on the planet. While she continues to figure out her career path as she studies Environmental Plant Science Horticulture at Missouri State University, she recognizes the impact this internship experience has made on her and is confident in the doors it will open in the future. \u201cI honestly did not expect to feel the way about floral design that I do after this internship. I love it<\/em>. This internship has taught me that Flowers connect people. They\u2019re perfect for every occasion; they\u2019re happiness in a glass vase.\u201d Hannah spent her internship with A Moment of Grace Florist in Warrenton, MO.<\/span><\/p> Click here<\/a> to read their reports and watch their videos. <\/span><\/p> AFE\u2019s impactful internship programs build a solid foundation of unparalleled experience with top industry organizations. As we look forward to a year full of potential in 2022, the Endowment is proud to share these positive internship experiences and continue to help prepare more young professionals for successful careers.<\/span><\/p> The deadline for the next cycle of applications is\u00a0March 1, 2022.<\/strong> Learn more <\/strong>at<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>endowment.org\/internships\/<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> The health and safety of our interns remains a top priority as we navigate COVID-19.\u00a0While we encourage students to apply for these internships, we are continuously evaluating the timing of internships and ensuring there are safety protocols in place for our host employers, their staff, and the interns. If your business is looking for interns, or you\u2019d like to sign up to be a host, please contact Candice Musgrove at AFE\u00a0<\/em><\/span>cmusgrove@afeendowment.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/a><\/p> \u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","news-categories":[50,31,44],"class_list":["post-3490","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-categories-internship","news-categories-latest-news","news-categories-student"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Cole-Bieker-Photo-e1641488438798.jpg\")
<\/a>Cole Bieker<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 January 2021 \u2013 April 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/William-Billmeyer-Photo-e1641488474787.jpg\")
<\/a>William Billmeyer<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0 January 2021 \u2013 June 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Samuel-Caplan-scaled-e1641488583710.jpeg\")
<\/a>Samuel Caplan<\/strong> \u2013 May 2021 \u2013 August 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Rodriguez_C-scaled-e1641488639350.jpg\")
<\/a>Christina Rodiguez<\/strong> \u2013 January 2021 \u2013 July 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Emily-Melzak-e1641488708623.jpg\")
<\/a>Ava Melzak<\/strong> \u2013 January 2021 \u2013 July 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Megan-Bundick-e1641488758458.jpg\")
<\/a>Meghan Bundick<\/strong> \u2013 January 2021 \u2013 July 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/IMG_20210927_153300-scaled-e1642080070741.jpg\")
<\/a>Holly Barrus<\/strong> \u2013 January 2021 \u2013 July 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Madison-Frost-scaled-e1641489008270.jpg\")
<\/a>Madison Frost<\/strong> \u2013 May 2021 \u2013 November 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Grace-Anderson-scaled-e1641489080887.jpeg\")
<\/a>Grace Anderson<\/strong> \u2013 May 2021 \u2013 August 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Hannah-Brendzen-e1641489129674.jpeg\")
<\/a>Hannah Brendzen<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 May 2021 \u2013 August 2021<\/em><\/span><\/p>