Garden Club Federation of Maine Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Garden Club Federation of Maine
The GCFM Horticultural Scholarship — Overview
Students studying horticulture and related plant sciences today play a vital role in safeguarding Earth’s natural resources for future generations. To support education in these areas, the Garden Club Federation of Maine (GCFM), together with its districts and local clubs, awards an annual horticultural scholarship of $3,000.
Who may apply
- Applicants must be legal residents of the State of Maine and may not be related to any member of the GCFM Board.
- Eligible students include college juniors, seniors, and graduate students. College sophomores who will be entering their junior year in the upcoming fall term may also apply.
- The recipient’s college or university does not have to be located in Maine. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s institution in August.
Fields of study considered
Applicants should be majoring in horticulture or closely related disciplines such as: horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, conservation, forestry, botany, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental concerns, ecology, land management, or other gardening-related fields.
Award and national consideration
The GCFM scholarship winner receives $3,000. That student’s name is forwarded to National Garden Clubs (NGC) for consideration for an additional national scholarship of $4,000. Applicants should include the NGC application and supporting documents along with their GCFM submission.
Invitation to Annual Meeting
Each June the scholarship recipient is invited to attend the GCFM Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon at the State Convention.
How to apply
- Deadline: All application materials must be emailed to the Scholarship Chair at [email protected] no later than FEBRUARY 1st.
- Downloadable forms:
- GCFM Horticulture Scholarship Application Form
- Mary Lou Marks Smith Scholarship Application Form
- Important: The GCFM application is NOT a fillable PDF. Print the form, complete it by hand, then scan and submit electronically.
Required documents (submitted together)
- Official academic transcript
- Financial aid information, signed by the institution’s Financial Aid Officer
- Personal letter from the applicant (limit: one page)
- List of extracurricular activities and honors/awards
- Three letters of recommendation (addressing scholarship potential, personal character, and work-related qualities), each limited to one page
Judging criteria
Applicants will be evaluated on:
1. Demonstrated aptitude in horticulture or related fields
2. Academic record
3. Avocational interests and vocational promise
4. Character
5. Financial need
GCFM Community College Scholarship — Mary Lou Marks Smith Scholarship
- Eligibility: Community college students who are legal residents of Maine and majoring in horticulture, floral design, or another gardening-related field.
- Award: $1,000, granted every other year in odd-numbered years.
- Disbursement: The scholarship is sent to the recipient’s college at the start of the second semester.
Application instructions for the Mary Lou Marks Smith Scholarship follow the same submission process and FEBRUARY 1st deadline; send materials to [email protected].
2024 GCFM Horticultural Scholarship Recipient
The 2024 GCFM Horticultural Scholarship was awarded to Naomi Lynch. Naomi will be a senior at Bates College in the fall, majoring in environmental science. Read more about her academic achievements and community service in the May/June 2024 issue of Thyme to Garden (see the NEWS section on this website). Naomi is an outstanding and well-deserving recipient.
Questions
For additional information, contact the GCFM Scholarship Chair at [email protected].