2022 Paul Thomas Interns of the Year

2022 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Interns of the Year Holly Barrus, University of Idaho & William Billmeyer, Kirkwood Community College For three to six months of the year, the interns awarded AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship disperse throughout the country to gear up, take on new roles, and put their classroom knowledge to work through hands-on industry experiences. Every internship cycle proves that one key to a better future for the industry is investing in our young professionals through these experiences.Students who successfully finish the internship, complete with their written reports and video blogs, automatically qualify for the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year Award. This year, two interns shone exceptionally bright – Holly Barrus of the…

Practicing What We Preach – Our New Intern, Gracie Alvarez

At AFE, we’re a big advocate for practicing what we preach. “Funding the Future of Floriculture” means many things to us, including investing in our industry’s young professionals through scholarships, internships, and professional development opportunities. AFE has had tremendous success with past interns, having brought our last onto the team full-time. Through thoughtful consideration and understanding of the importance of hands-on experience for young professionals, we’ve hired Gracie Alvarez of the University of Missouri as our new intern – a passionate and prepared member of the floral industry.Get to know Gracie in her personal note to the industry below, as she shares her path, passions, and enthusiasm for her new role. I’ve only been involved with the floral industry since the…

Internship Experiences Providing Skills for Success

2021 AFE Internship Awards and PlacementsThe future looks bright! Let’s kickstart 2022 with some excitement, positive vibes, and industry successes – join us in congratulating ten dedicated students who rocked their internships in 2021 through AFE’s internship programs. With valuable industry experience under their belt, they’ve not only gained crucial skills but are eager to learn more and make significant impacts in the future.Internships are win-win for floral industry organizations and students – 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’ skills and the future of our industry. AFE is thrilled to facilitate these experiences through our internship…

Call for Applications: Paid Internship Opportunities Available

We are accepting applications for two floriculture/horticulture paid internship programs – the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program.Applications are due October 1st! Our internships are the best way for students to gain hands-on experience that helps them toward their future careers. Since their inception, our programs have been awarded 1.3 million dollars in scholarships to deserving students in the industry.Apply TodayVic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship ProgramThe Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program provides the opportunity to gain experience at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. The program offers paid internships in three, four or six-month durations and provides scholarships of up to $6,000 In addition, faculty are reimbursed up to $1,000 in travel expenses to…

2021 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year, Sherman Hartman

Essential Experience, Passion & DedicationA large part of our industry’s future relies on the minds and green thumbs of young professionals studying, researching, and working in the field.The American Floral Endowment recognizes one such prodigy by awarding the 2nd annual Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year Award. This year, we are pleased to bestow this honor on Sherman Hartman of Iowa State University for his exceptional hard work and dedication to our industry.Sherman made his skills and passion for greenhouse floral production clear during his internship at Tagawa Greenhouses in Denver, Colorado. Sherman completed this internship in 2020 through the Endowment’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program, qualifying him for this prestigious award.About the Paul Thomas Floriculture…

Joshua Craver Joins Vic & Margaret Ball Committee

Joshua Craver, Ph.D. has been appointed as the newest member of AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Committee for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program. He is an assistant professor of Controlled Environment Horticulture at Colorado State University.Craver received his M.S. in Horticulture from Kansas State University in 2014 and Ph.D. in Horticulture from Purdue University in 2018. He teaches multiple courses at CSU including Greenhouse Management, Indoor Crop Production and Physiology, and Greenhouse Practicum. He also advises multiple graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research focused on enhancing the production of vegetable and floriculture crops in controlled environments.Craver is not new to the American Floral Endowment. In 2011, Craver was a recipient of the Vic & Margaret Ball…

$1 Million Awarded in Scholarships through the Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Program

Building the Bridge – The Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program celebrates a milestone. Here’s one thing that’s absolutely essential to keep an industry, and everyone in it, thriving: fresh talent. Especially in demanding fields like horticulture and floriculture, everything depends on the continual renewal of the professional workforce with smart, well-prepared young people who can take up the banner and infuse the tradition with their energy and insight. But where do those young people come from? They need the right academic background, of course. But they also need to have a realistic sense of where they’re heading. They need a modicum of experience to have truly discovered their passion and be committed to a challenging but rewarding career……

2020 AFE Internship Awards and Placements

AFE congratulates and celebrates the eight students recently awarded an internship through the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program and the Mosmiller Internship program.  Each will receive scholarships after successfully completing their paid internships, lasting between three to six months. It’s a win-win for the industry – students can apply their knowledge, while industry organizations bring top talent and fresh thinking to their operation. Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Awards The Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program provides students the opportunity to gain practical floriculture/horticulture experience while training at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Students will intern away from home for three, four, or six-month periods, and upon completion of their paid internship, they will receive a scholarship in…

Inaugural Paul Thomas Intern of the Year – Renata Goossen

Cultivating the Next Generation It’s always good news to learn that a smart, hard-working, dedicated young person is preparing for a career in horticulture and floriculture—one where she can be expected to contribute mightily to higher standards, better products, innovative techniques, and a healthier marketplace for flowers and plants.It’s even better news when that person is an adept communicator, likely to serve as an impassioned, articulate ambassador for the industry we love so well.Such a person is Renata Goossen, the first-ever recipient of the Paul Thomas Intern of the Year Award, created to recognize an outstanding student who has successfully completed a Vic & Margaret Ball Internship.As the Paul Thomas award recipient, Goossen will be provided with free registration, paid…

AFE Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year Award

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has announced the Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year award. Designed to recognize an outstanding student who has participated in the Vic & Margaret Ball Internship program, this award pays special tribute to the late Dr. Paul Thomas, retired professor at the University of Georgia, who passed away in 2019.The Vic & Margaret Ball Internship program was established in 1992 to provide students the opportunity to gain practical experience while training at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Students intern away from home/school for a period of 3-6 months and receive a scholarship upon completion – up to $6,000!All students who successfully complete a Vic & Margaret Ball Internship will automatically qualify for this annual recognition, which includes paid…

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