Scholarship Winners

I received a scholarship application from every state in Central Region and I wish I could've given a scholarship to each and everyone. They were all deserving, but my co-chairman and I had to pick just two. Each winner will receive $500.00

The first scholarship winner is Eric Schuchardt from Ladysmith, Wisconsin. He is a junior attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison majoring in Landscape Architecture.

The second scholarship winner is Grant Thompson from Des Moines, Iowa. He is a senior attending Iowa State University, with a double major in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.

We are giving a 3rd Central Region Scholarship this year. We have an Iowa Garden Club Member that wishes to honor a long time garden club friend with a $500.00 scholarship. She wanted to give it through Central Region.

The scholarship is given by Jan Tyler-Blanchard of Decorah, Iowa, in honor of Dorothy Hallenbeck that belonged to the Springfield Garden Club in Illinois. She was Jan's mentor and introduced her to garden club when she lived in Springfield, IL. Dorothy was a wonderful designer and horticulturist. She gave many hours of her time to the Lincoln Memorial Gardens and served in many capacities. She had a degree in Japanese Floral arranging, studying under O'Hara in Japan. She planted the roadsides in Illinois with wildflowers when she was wildflower chairman. She enjoyed working with the youth. There are probably Illinois members that remember the work of Dorothy Hallenbeck today.

The winner of this scholarship is Emma Franklin from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She is a Junior attending Southeast Missouri State University majoring in Horticulture. Her long term goal is to own her own organic farm where she will grow native plants and herbs, vegetables and cut flowers.