Show Some Flower Love in AFE’s New Video Contest

A new video contest has been launched encouraging people to showcase their love of flowers, with a grand prize of $4,000.Funded by the Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF) and sponsored by Asocolflores, the 2017 #FlowerLoveVideoContest aims to inspire creative videos from anyone and everyone who loves flowers, and promotes the use and giving of fresh flowers.“We are fortunate enough to work with a product that can be used to tell stories and evoke emotion,” said Gabriel Becerra, President of Golden Flowers, FMRF President and past AFE Chairman.“The #FlowerLoveVideoContest is a great initiative for us to come together as an industry, and tell different stories about the impact that flowers can have on a daily basis. I invite everyone to participate and…

Applications for Paid Floriculture Internships Due October 1

Applications are now being accepted for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program.AFE administers paid internship programs for floriculture and environmental horticulture students each year, and the next application deadline is October 1.Students selected will receive a scholarship upon successful completion of their internships.The Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program was made possible through a generous gift from Vic & Margaret Ball and allows students 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.Three videos were created earlier this year to promote the program:The student video shares students’ successful internship experiences and testimonials on…

Bringing Top Talent to the Floral Industry

AFE is once again aiming to attract young business professionals to the world of flowers through its Business Internship Program, now in its third year.An Employer Resource Guide that was created to help companies build a successful internship program is also available, with easy-to-use guidelines and steps to create meaningful learning experiences for the next generation of business leaders.Now’s your chance to host an intern and help eager students contribute to your organization and the floral industry!With support from participating industry organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada, students will gain practical business experience and develop essential skills to help the floral industry prosper.Open to manufacturers, wholesalers/suppliers, retail floral shops, importers and growing operations, AFE will provide host employers with full-time…

More Than $36,000 Awarded in 2017 AFE Scholarships

Emily Currens, University of Georgia, John L. Tomasovic Sr. ScholarshipTwenty students have been awarded AFE scholarships this year totaling $36,500. Sixty applications were received for this 2017 scholarship cycle.“We had many outstanding students apply for scholarships this year, which is why some scholarships were awarded to two recipients,” said Dwight Larimer, AFE Chairman and Education Committee Chair.“I’m proud to see the high quality of students each year and I enjoy granting scholarships to these well-deserved students to help them continue their education and become passionate industry leaders.”AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year.Learn more about AFE scholarships here. American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship — $2,200Recipient: Summer Blanco, California State Polytechnic University – PomonaBlanco is a junior…

Students, Young Professionals Recognized in AFE Bulletin May 2017

AFE Intern Scholarships Awarded to Six Students

Six students have been selected to receive AFE internships for the March 1 deadline.Five students were awarded Vic & Margaret Ball Internships and one student was awarded a Mosmiller Internship. Each will receive scholarships after successfully completing their internships.The Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program gives students the opportunity to train for three, four or six-month periods at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery while gaining practical floriculture/horticulture experience. Recipients are:Thomas Brumblow, University of GeorgiaThomas Brumblow – three months at Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Wash., $1,500 scholarshipBrumblow is majoring in horticulture at the University of Georgia and is a member of the Horticulture Club and the Pi Alpha Xi Honor Society for horticulture enthusiasts. He is eager to become a top…

AFE Awards 2017 Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship

AFE announced the recipient of the 2017 Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship.Kaylee South, a Ph.D. student at The Ohio State University – OARDC, was awarded a $10,000 scholarship ($5,000 for two consecutive years).“There were a record number of applications this year, which shows the growing interest and need for AFE scholarships. The high quality of students is a testament to their exceptional determination and passion, and I am confident these future leaders will help the industry progress,” said Dwight Larimer, AFE Chairman and Education Committee Chair.Kaylee SouthKaylee is pursuing her Ph.D. in agriculture and is researching botrytis in floriculture crops. Her focus is isolating bacteria that has beneficial qualities in floriculture crops that can be successfully applied to control botrytis.“I am…

2017 AFE Scholarship Applications Due By May 1

Floriculture and horticulture students can apply now for more than 20 different AFE scholarships!Sophomore, junior, senior and graduate students must submit their online applications by the May 1 deadline.Joshua Henry, North Carolina State University 2016 Richard T. Meister Scholarship RecipientAFE encourages students to apply for scholarships early, as the need for financial assistance in floriculture and environmental horticulture programs is great. The scholarships range from $500 to $6,000.In 2016, the Endowment awarded nearly $40,000 in scholarships.“AFE is focused on attracting and retaining the next generation of industry professionals,” AFE Executive Director Debi Chedester said. “We award scholarships to students each year to help them toward becoming exceptional industry leaders.”Descriptions of each scholarship offered, along with the undergraduate and graduate applications…

New Videos Promote Ball Internship Program

AFE has announced the release of three new videos promoting the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program.This paid internship program gives students, who are studying floriculture or horticulture at a college or university, the opportunity to train for three, four or six months at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery.Students will gain hands-on experience and put their classroom knowledge to work!The student video shares students’ successful internship experiences and testimonials on how the program helped them in their careers. The employer video encourages companies to participate in the program by becoming a host employer. This video explains the benefits of hosting an intern, and shows how AFE helps companies train the next generation of industry leaders.The parent video explains to parents what…

Students Honored at ASHS Annual Conference

Two students whose research projects have been supported by AFE were recognized during the 2016 American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference held from Aug. 8 – 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Ga.Clemson University student Katie Bennett received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Presentation Award and Krishna Bhattarai of the University of Florida was awarded second place in the Graduate Student Poster Presentation.Katie Bennett and Dr. James Faust.Bennett worked with Associate Professor Dr. James Faust at Clemson University on a project to reduce the incidence of petunia flower meltdown, a problem caused by Botrytis. Her research demonstrated that spraying petunias with calcium chloride twice weekly for two weeks prior to shipping reduced the severity of Botrytis infection by 80 percent.“Katie exceeded…