Altman Family & Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship Application
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About the Altman Family Scholarship
In 2015, Ken and Deena established the Altman Family Scholarship through AFE to support graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in floriculture or horticulture. Since its inception, the scholarship has provided financial assistance to more than 25 students, helping support many of today’s brightest floricultural researchers and educators. This scholarship is helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher education and helping them to achieve their career goals.
About the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship
This scholarship honors the late Paul Ecke, Jr. of Encinitas, Calif., who made indispensable contributions to the advancement of the global floriculture industry. Among his many interests was concern for the future of floriculture, as influenced by innovative research and educational programs. He recognized that creative scientists and educators are required to lead the floral industry in the 21st century and beyond. Each year, one student will receive $5,000 for two consecutive years, providing that they continue to meet requirements for this duration and submit an annual update.
Application Requirements and Information
Submit your online application below. Be sure you have your personal statement, letters of recommendation, photo, and video ready to upload at the same time. Official transcripts can be emailed to afe@endowment.org (if necessary). Only one application is needed for the Altman and Ecke scholarships. Those attending land-grant universities will automatically be considered for the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship. All others will only be considered for the Altman Family Scholarship.
Applicants must be in the process of successfully completing either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in horticulture or a related field (e.g., agricultural engineering, entomology, agricultural marketing and economics, plant pathology, etc.) and must have the intention of pursuing an MS or Ph.D. degree on a full-time basis. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a clear intent to pursue employment and contribute to the workforce in the United States following completion of their studies.
Prior to completing the online application, please gather/prepare the following documents:
- A Personal Statement – prepare a typewritten statement not to exceed two single-spaced typed pages providing: (1) reason for applying for scholarship, (2) personal involvement in floriculture activities, (3) a brief description of your proposed research project and how it will contribute directly or indirectly toward resolving a major floriculture issue and (4) your anticipated future professional goals in floriculture.
- Letters of Recommendation – three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s floriculture-related advisor.
- Transcripts – official transcripts sent directly from your Office of the Registrar. We only need transcripts from your current program unless you have yet to receive a semester of grades, then please provide a transcript from your most recent prior institution. Please upload below, mail, or email.
- Email: afe@endowment.org
- Mail: American Floral Endowment, 610 Madison Street, Ste 101 PMB 803, Alexandria, VA 22314
- Video – Please supply a short video (up to three minutes) of yourself. In this video, you want to communicate to the selection committee why you are the best candidate for this scholarship. Be sure to describe or show your current or proposed research project. We are looking for creativity and personality in these videos. Show your passion and consider adding slides and/or pictures to add depth to the video.
- Photo – please submit a color photo to use for publicity purposes.
Applicant Agreement:
- By submitting this online application, the applicant certifies that the information provided on the application is accurate and complete, and understands that any misstatement, falsification, or omission of information shall be grounds for rejection of the application.
- The applicant is not currently in default on loans for academic study.
- The applicant has not been convicted of a felony.
- The applicant agrees to promote the Altman Family/Paul Ecke Jr. Scholarships through presentations and submissions of research reports to professional and trade publications.
- The applicant agrees, if awarded, to submit a detailed research project report and a full report on his/her floriculture activities of each academic year.
- The applicant understands that if awarded, the funds will be disbursed directly to the university in the name of the applicant, and are to be used in partial support of their research project and applied against their existing university stipend.