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Cultivating Future Leaders: Graduate Students Shine at 2025 NFF
March 17, 2025
AFE programs strive to continuously empower young professionals in our industry, and provide them with educational and networking opportunities to grow their experiences and careers in floral. Recently, 10 floriculture graduate students from across the nation were provided the opportunity to attend the 2025 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) with grants from the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund!
The NFF is an annual event that brings together researchers, industry leaders, scientists, and faculty to promote communication, advancement and unity in the floriculture community. AFE sponsors this event each year with an educational grant. The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund, which supported the students’ attendance this year, awards grants for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields at universities, colleges, and federal research institutions in the US. The Fund was created in 2024 in a partnership agreement with AFE, bringing a combined effort of over 120 years of dedicated funding to provide innovative floriculture research and solutions.
The following students received grants to attend the 2025 NFF: Tanner Hamerling (University of Georgia), Lauren Eberth (University of Georgia), Nelda Hernandez Martinez (University of Florida), Amanda Solliday (North Carolina State University), Pierce Hayden (Kansas State University), Lais Romero Paula (University of Florida), Sungeun Lim (Purdue University), Greta Gallina (University of Georgia), Megan Gibb (Louisiana State University) and Gasselle Cordova (University of Florida).
“Attending NFF was a fantastic experience for me! The meeting was a great size, allowing everyone to attend all of the same events and allowing for meaningful discussions and connections. The tours were excellent and specific to our field, and the specialized focus of the conference made it easy to connect with researchers working on similar topics,” Greta Gallina, one of the travel grant recipients from the University of Georgia, said.
“One of my favorite aspects was the opportunity to network with experts in the field. I had in-depth conversations, exchanged ideas, and even received invitations to visit two labs in the future. Overall, NFF is an outstanding meeting for graduate students, and the travel grant makes it highly accessible.”
Many of the graduate students presented their research findings and updates during the NFF, giving them valuable experience and feedback from top industry scientists and faculty members. One of the students, Amanda Solliday, presented her work with AFE’s Sustainabloom Program, sharing valuable insights into sustainable practices from a recent survey.
Nelda Hernandez, from the University of Florida, attended NFF for the first time this year with support from a travel grant and described it as an eye-opening experience with the floriculture community.
“It illuminated the ongoing challenges that growers face and highlighted the importance of our research in supporting them,” she said.
“Connecting with both academic peers and industry professionals was invaluable, and I’m grateful for the long-lasting relationships formed. A special thank you to the National Floriculture Forum and the Gloeckner Foundation Student Travel Grant for making this opportunity possible — allowing me to deepen my understanding and contribute to a greater purpose.”
AFE offers many opportunities to support your continued education in our industry, and to fund research advancements that are shaping the future of floriculture!
For M.S. and Ph.D. students, AFE offers annual scholarships to support the next generation of floriculture scientists and educators. AFE also offers multiple opportunities for floriculture research funding. The Fred C. Gloeckenr Foundation Research Fund is currently accepting applications for research funding, due April 1, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit endowment.org/gloeckner. Two other opportunities for research funding through AFE will open for applications soon, and be due August 1, 2025!
