News
Thank You to Our 2026 Scholarship Reviewers!
July 22, 2026
The American Floral Endowment is proud to recognize and thank the dedicated volunteers who generously shared their time and expertise throughout the year. Our volunteer reviewers play a vital role in evaluating scholarships, helping ensure a fair and thoughtful selection process.
Their knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to supporting the next generation of floral industry leaders make our programs possible. We are incredibly grateful for their service and the lasting impact they have on students, educators, researchers, and the industry as a whole.
This year, we received over 120 scholarship applications. With the help of 70 dedicated reviewers, we selected recipients and awarded scholarships to 23 students. Stay tuned to learn more about each of the scholarship awardees next month.
Thank you to each of the volunteers listed below for your invaluable contributions and for helping advance the future of the floral industry.
2026 Reviewers:
Tulle Alexander, Altman Plants
Ken Altman, Altman Plants
Andrea Ancel, FTD
Lacee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers
Lenzee Bilke, Madeline’s Flowers
Dr. Megan Bowman, Ball Horticultural Company
Dr. Mark Bridgen, Cornell University
Debi Chedester, American Floral Endowment
QiuXia Chen, Dummen Orange
Emily Chockley, Green Circle Growers
Greg Dedman, Mountain View Greenhouse
Joseph DelConte, Cornell University
Patricia Dewar, Dewar Nurseries
Sarwan Dhir, Fort Valley State University
Lizbeth Ecke, Carltas Company
Natalie Franklin, Armellini Logistics
Pamela Andrade Gallardo, University of California, Davis
David Garcia, Pete Garcia Company / Garcia Group
Haramrit Gill, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)
Denise Godfrey, Olive Hill Greenhouses
Monique Hakkert, Ball Horticultural Company
Cindy Hanauer, Grand Central Floral
Adam Heimos, Hoffmann Heimos Greenhouse
Dr. Josh Henry, Ball Seed
Jim Hessler, Altman Plants
Mazharul Islam, University of the Virgin Islands
Dr. Nathan Jahnke, Ball Horticultural Company
Annika Kohler, Oceanfront Farms
Suzie Kostick, Flora Renaissance
Ana Maria Pastrana Leon, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)
Mary Lewis, Syngenta Flowers
Dr. Leynar Leyton, University of Florida
Dr. Navreet Mahal, Texas A&M University
Mason Marshall, Texas A&M University
Michelle McElhannon, Dummen Orange
Dr. Chad Miller, Colorado State University
Moein Moosavi, Driscoll’s
Dr. Terril Nell, American Floral Endowment (Retired Research Director)
Sarah Nesbitt, Armellini Logistics
Steven Newman, Professor Emeritus, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University
Mike Novovesky, Allied Hort Sales, Inc.
Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers
Ellen Paparozzi, WE Consult International
Monnaie Pepin, CalFlowers
Kauahi Perez, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Aren Phillips, Walters Gardens
Adam Pound, AgraTech, Inc.
Ralph Pulte, Industry Member
Cindy Rapley, Allied Hort Sales, Inc.
Becky Rice, Pink Poppy Floral Design
Jordan Richardson, CalFlowers
Greg Royer, Royer’s Flowers & Gifts
Karen Schneck, Scotts Miracle-Gro
Dr. Brent Sipes, University of Hawaii
Dr. Simone Valle de Souza, Michigan State University
Brian Sparks, Meister Media Worldwide
Dr. Eric Stallknecht, Virginia Tech
Matt Stuppy, Stuppy Greenhouse
Gina Tarquinio, Topiary 219
Jim Tuinier, Post Gardens
Maleah Wellmann, Bell Nursery
Dr. Anne Whealy, Proprietary Rights International
Susan Yoder, Seed Your Future
Kristin Zeit, Meister Media Worldwide
