AFE’s Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Turns 20 in 2012
The American Floral Endowment Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012. The American Floral Endowment (AFE) Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012.
Since its creation in 1992, this program has facilitated paid internships and provided scholarship funds to more than 225 students in the floriculture/horticulture industry.
The Ball Internship Program was created with a significant personal donation from Vic and Margaret Ball. The late Vic Ball was a well-respected leader in horticulture and floriculture for more than sixty years. His unfailing support of the industry took many forms, including his prolific writing on aspects of horticulture and floriculture worldwide; his committed service to industry associations and the American Floral Endowment and his lifelong interest in education.
Margaret Ball and her family are still very dedicated to the internship program and enjoy reviewing the student applications and the program evaluations of successful applicants.
Students selected for the program are placed in paid internships at a commercial production greenhouse or nursery. Upon completing the internship, participants receive scholarship funds, in addition to their salary, ranging from $1,500 to $6,000.
Applicants are not required to have previous floriculture or horticulture experience, but must have completed general education requirements and demonstrate a genuine interest in pursuing a career in floriculture. The internship program is competitive and applications are reviewed twice yearly with the deadlines of October 1 and March 1.
“Internships provide the hands-on experience students need to pursue a career in commercial production,” says AFE Education Chairman Ken Altman of Altman Plants in Vista, Calif. “While college courses are essential, applying classroom knowledge in practical situations is extremely beneficial and brings classroom lessons to life.”
More than 50 growing operations and growers participate in the internship program, and AFE is always looking for additional growers who are interested in hosting an intern.
For more information about student application deadlines or host requirements, visit www.endowment.org. Student reports from recent internships are also posted under the Students at Work section of the website.
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